Hon. Andrew Uchendu was the Leader of the members of the new Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) in the House of Representatives amongst whom 37 later defected to the All Progressive Congress (APC). He is also the Chairman, Committee on Public Service Matters of the House.  Uchendu, who represents the Ikwerre/Emohua Federal Constituency of Rivers State, in this interview, says there is no going back to the PDP. Excerpts:

BY LEVINUS   NWABUGHIOGU

What is your opinion on the recent move by lawmakers from the All Progressive Congress (APC)  to take majority status in the House of Representatives?

You remember that I led the team of 37 lawmakers who defected from the PDP to the APC. In taking that decision it was done under sober reflection. It is unfortunate that all efforts made in making sure that reconciliation was brought into the party failed.

You will recall the embarrassment then that our Rivers State Governor received in the hands of some members of the House of Representatives who felt that Mr. Speaker should not have given them any private audience.

They are Nigerians and they were expected to meet with anybody of their choice and they did write to Mr. Speaker and Mr. Speaker approved that they should come and they were embarrassed by members. These are clear indications of the wrongs in the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).

Efforts have been made to reposition that party to no avail and finally because of the division and factions in this party, different interests emerged and I found myself along with the 36 other lawmakers defecting to APC.

Game of numbers

It is very obvious that politics is about number, more still in the parliament very clearly stated in our rules and regulations. Politics is a game of number. The majority party must possess the majority of members in the House.

The majority leader of the House must be a member of the party that has majority. It is commonsensical. It is there. They did not write it because they knew today some people will be defecting. We knew the change was inevitable.

On return from New Year break, we now received a court order that we should maintain the status quo and as law makers, what do our colleagues expect us to do? We are law abiding citizens.

Until that order is vacated we should hold our breath. The Minority leader, Femi Gbajabiamila only cracked a joke by referring to Leo Ogor as the ‘minority leader’ which does not change his position as the Deputy Majority Leader.

Nonetheless, I did not expect the kind of reactions I got from my colleagues- the PDP members. What is the anger all about? The APC is the majority which is a simple truth. Why do they want to pull down the roof except they want to redefine democracy? I won’t be surprised but then that was what happened?

Now that Bamanga Tukur has been removed, do you see yourself going back?

You see, the exit or removal of the national chairman Alhaji Bamanga Tukur was one of many conditions. One has been met. However, the issues in PDP have gotten more complicated and complex which have led to other subsidiary problems.

I don’t know who that politician will, having defected, go back and eat his vomit. In fact, people like me have crossed the red line. Though the new acting PDP chairman, Adamu Mu’azu can go about saying what he wants to say.

Rivers State has been boiling in crisis for quite some time now, how long do you think this crisis would drag on?
Well, in politics, people try to strategize and re-strategize but in any case those who want to take over power are realigning and carrying on with their ambition. They should take it easy, approach people, campaign and convince them to vote for them instead of trying to take power by force. A situation where the police is still funded and supported from our common wealth and would brazingly support a section against another is unacceptable. I am worried that the police is part of the system encouraging discontent rather than making  peace and this could lead to anarchy which can metamorphose into something else. Who knows where all these will lead us to. A situation where people can no longer hold social gathering like the one that Senator Abe participated in and was shot by the police with what is alleged to be rubber bullet is condemnable.

I did not pay my tax in Rivers State so that police will come and be causing havoc and taking us back-ward.

Members of Rivers State House of Assembly recently sat and passed the state’s 2014 in the Government House. How would you describe that development?

Based on the conduct of the invaders who invaded the Rivers State House of Assembly on the 9th of July 2013;  during the crisis of July 9, most of the electronic gadgets which are meant for the transmitting of activities in the House were destroyed. So where do you want the members to sit? So do you want to now deny the people of Rivers the dividend of democracy? So the part of Government House in Rivers was given them where they met and passed the 2014 budget.