By Gab Ejuwa

Hon Meyiwa Jehoida Erewa (JP) is a renown Chartered Surveyor and Estate Valuer in Delta State. A man of many parts, Erewa is the pioneer Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Warri South Local Government Area of the State. With an eye on the House of Representatives come 2015. In this interview,  he speaks on how to provide an all -inclusive representation for the multi-ethnic Warri Federal Constituency and other issues. Excerpt:

What special qualities do you think you possess that has made groups and people call on you to contest forHouse of Representatives elections come 2015 ?

Since I joined politics several years age, I have been in the vanguard of politics that will better mankind. There were three principles that made me join politics then : I cannot sit and watch some persons that are not experienced to be my leader; secondly, I cannot be here begging cap- in- hand when politics is there to enhance the economy; and thirdly, I won’t allow politics to insult my institution. By institution, I mean, myself, family, tribe and culture.

There are instances where persons of substance because they are not in politics, their cars are impounded and dropped in the council until they pay huge amounts of money before it can be released but those who are in politics that are uneducated park at the centre of the road and yet their vehicles are not impounded. With all these reasons, I believe that politics will go a long way to promote my institution, release me from begging and improve the economy.

Why did you accept these calls, knowing that politics in Nigeria requires a lot of money?

I don’t believe in money politics because when I came into politics, I didn’t spend money. I believe in the quality in you, the way the people assess and accept you. All these years, I have been in politics, I have grown to the height of my profession where I can be comfortable with myself. But sitting at home and my office will not help mankind. Many people today are in their homes and offices comfortable and yet others are suffering. Politics is not all about money.

Meyiwa Jehoida Erewa

It is about service and bringing development to the people. Let me digress a little, Daudu street area where I hail from in Warri is still the way it was in 1948 . No development. If you view the area I am talking about from the air, you will see that the colonial masters did a lot in terms of infrastructure. Most of the structures there were built by the colonial masters. The road network is quite okay but the conviniences should be in line with modern trends.

Most of the houses in this area have no such facilities. Those that built them are all dead and those enjoying it today cannot develop it, all they are looking for is how tenants can pay them money. The government can help by coming up with a policy and asking them to come with the survey plan of their land, then they will come into agreement, call the pay back period. Then, the government will develop the land. Thereafter, the man who owns the land will be collecting 40 percent of the rent, while government will collect 60 percent till the amount for the development would be completed.

With such a policy, you will find out that we will bring a new life and development to these areas and these are the things politics only can do. It is only the government and multinational companies that can do it. Ofcourse, the multinational companies will not do it because they are here to maximize their profit. I believe if given the opportunity to serve at the Federal House of Representatives, I will attract government to do it because I want to be in government to protect the minority.

How do you intend to give an all inclusive representation vis-a-vis the multi-ethnic setting of the Warri Federal Constituency and your take on zoning of political position in Nigeria?

All democracies are peculiar in Nigeria, because our federal character zoning has contributed immensely to our oneness, peace and political stability. It has given a sense of belonging to all sections of the country and it is my candid opinion that it should be given legal backing by enshrining it ‘in the Nigerian constitution.“If you take the Warri Federal Constituency for example, you will find out that since 1999 when democracy came to stay permanently in Nigeria, no politician from Warri South LGA has represented the constituency in the Federal House of Representatives while Warri South- West LGA and Warri North LGA have been there for two tenures each and we are saying that for political stability, equity, justice and fair play, 2015 is the turn of Warri South LGA.

I support zoning because of it’s unifying force. There is no place in Nigeria where you don’t have different ethnic groups because the constitution states that if you have lived in a place for ten years, you can vote and be voted for. We are not talking of the indigenes who can vote and be voted for. There was a time when someone from Agbor became a councilor in Warri because he was popular in his area. There was another time when an Hausa man was made a ward executive in Warri. All we are saying is that the people who you are going to serve must believe in you and they must have the confidence that you can deliver for them based on your relationship with them over the years. Like I keep saying, in every family we know who can be a treasurer.

Briefly assess Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s administration and Delta at 22?

Nobody will ever say the man has not done well. It is not easy to continue from where your predecessor stopped and still do more because first you will have to maintain the projects he left for you and to improve on the standard to enable the man who wants to take over from you have a platform to continue. Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan to a large extent engaged in mega projects which are capital intensive. We may not see the benefit of it until they are completed.

When Warri was to be dualized, critics did not allow people to rest but today if you take a ride around Okere, Cemetery, Warri-Sapele and other roads, you will enjoy it because they are all well tarred. Some persons that left Warri years ago, if they return now may not know their compound because of the development .Political opportunities have transformed Warri and other towns believe Uduaghan is doing well and should be given opportunity to do more, and the opportunity to aspire to higher position for continuity purposes.

A child at 22 is still growing; the level we have attained now is commendable. I really appreciate Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan for the ‘Delta Beyond Oil’ initiative. It is really improving the lot of the people because the oil servicing companies have not done well in terms of development of host communities. The Delta beyond oil initiative is gradually diverting our attention from oil and that is a sign of positive development in the future.

Do you think there is a threat to the political space in Nigeria ahead 2015 election?

I don’t think so because all over the world, nobody wants military to come to power. You can see the reaction of civilians in countries where the military wants to take over power because they want the people to be ruled by the people. So the era of military rule is gone. Democracy will surely thrive but the only place I see that is not strong enough is the legislature.

For now, I think the legislature is still growing because they have not been able to come up with fundamental laws and bill that will better the lot of the people. All the laws in operation today were put there by the executives. Up till now, we have not been able to come up with an amended constitution. We should look at policies. I know no law is easy, it is either we amend and modernize it to better the lots of the people.

The judiciary and the executive work” with the law and it is my impetus to contest for the House of Representatives. They should allow performance to take its place. The last election in Edo state was done base on performance because Governor Adams Oshiomhole performed creditably well in his first term. We are coming to the days where performance will determine who to be voted for. Come 2015, anybody that wants to contest must have a track record and not money.

As a pioneer local government Chairman of the PDP, how would you rate 14 years of PDP rule in Delta state?

PDP is a big party; it is one of the biggest parties in Africa. One of the major tasks we have is to manage human beings. Selection vis-a.-vis people representing the party at various positions have been a problem and in my time as the Chairman of PDP in Warri South Local Government Area, we advocated for true primaries because anything you do, if you don’t do check and balances, you’d will not grow.