MR. Nimi Walson-Jack, a gubernatorial aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State was the General Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) between 2004 and 2006 and  recently served as an Electoral Commissioner in the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC). In this interview, gives reasons on his plans and prospects ahead of the gubernatorial primaries.

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN & DOTUN IBIWOYE

Why did you choose to run on the platform of the PDP given that you worked as a commissioner in the State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), and knowing how close you were to the governor; why did you chose to run on the platform of the PDP, when your friend, the governor has defected to the APC?
Well, first, let us say that membership of a political party is a personal decision and so, I have my views, ideas, and position on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Indeed, I was a fan, not member of the PDP in the sense that even when the present and past political leadership of the state, wanted to start partisan politics, they were not really members of the PDP.

Nimi Walson-Jack

Partisan politics
I sold the PDP to them and they moved over from the APP then to the PDP. So, I have had a long interest in the PDP; this interest is not a fancy interest, it is rooted in the foundation of the PDP and so, if the governor decides with some of his associates to go to another party that is their decision, I remain a member of the PDP.

Not few Nigerians agree that Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has performed well in the state in the provision of people-oriented projects, in the area of education, health, and transport. If elected governor of Rivers State in 2015, do you intend to continue from where Amaechi will stop?
Okay, let me address one issue, which I may have over-looked, but you raised it when you said close to Amaechi. My relationship with Amaechi dates back to the days of NRC. We were all members of the National Republican Convention and then, eventually, we served the Ada-George/Odili administration as special assistants. I was Special Assistant I, and he was Special Assistant II; we shared the same office.

Yes, like many others, we have come a long way. Most people in Rivers State know that I was not part of the subsequent Odili administration; for eight years, I was not part of the government. Now, when Amaechi became governor, he asked groups: civil society organisations, NBA, the academic staff union, to nominate members to be appointed into an electoral commission he wanted to be independent.

I was nominated by the civil society organizations; Governor Amaechi did not nominate me, but he accepted my nomination by the civil society organisations and forwarded to the House of Assembly, which approved the nominations.

So, I worked with other individuals, who were equally nominated and our achievements in the electoral commission are there; they speak for themselves. We changed the face of elections; we did not look like people who were influenced in any way and I am sure the two reports we wrote are all there for anybody to challenge our achievements and our assertions.

I also had the privilege of chairing the education summit, which developed the blueprint for the education sector in Rivers State and I am proud of this. Beyond that, I am sure you will not find my name in any other thing and so, I don’t want to deny our friendship.

You are aspiring to be Rivers governor, what do you think you can do differently?
Given the current divisive state of the polity, it has become obvious that except we have a strong, inspiring and transformational leadership to unite our people and improve their economic well being, we may wake up one morning to find that everything we held dear as a State has slipped through our hands.

That’s the reason I commit to providing the leadership that will take us from where we are to where we want to be as a people and as a State. I am talking about the kind of leadership that would create the platform to build a new economic class that will guarantee individual and collective prosperity for all.

The need to change the way Government business is done is another reason. I want to bring on board a new and better template for the administration of Government Service. I am an ardent believer in the Civil Service.
I believe that a strong Civil Service remains pivotal to good governance.

Also, I am aware that some level of improvement has been done to our educational facilities but we need to move beyond that to achieve the level of formal and informal education that improves our level of competence, skill and character to make our people globally competitive.

Specifically, Content and Structural issues will be visited so that our public schools can return to their pride of place. For it is only on the basis of excellence in education that there is no discrimination.  One thing going for the Rivers people is their early interaction with the European missionaries. Our administration will pursue programmes that will bring back civility, compassion and personal integrity. In this aspect, we will lead by exemplary conduct.

Who is the godfather behind you?
I am the candidate of the Rivers man and woman requiring much more of service than is currently available. Rivers people are my god-fathers and mothers and it is not new.
God-fatherism is prevalent in all aspects of human life, from Christian baptism to participation in politics. In politics, god-fatherism runs through the gamut of party membership to contesting for public office.