Chief Godson Echegile was Nigeria’s Ambassador to Sierra Leone between 2008 and 2011. A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Delta State, Echegile in this interview shares his views on the 2015 political succession in his native Delta State among other issues. Excerpts:

BY GBENGA OKE

Everyone who leaves the PDP complains of lack democracy. Why?
When you say there is no internal democracy in the PDP, it is an exaggeration compared to what happens in other political parties. We have seen PDP hold primaries but you see some other parties who sit in their sitting rooms and pick candidates. If you are to compare the two, which one is more democratic?

People say all sort of things against the PDP on the pages of newspapers, but the populace knows the truth and that is why they will remain with the PDP. PDP has a way of resolving its own problems, we have had crisis bigger than this and we came out of it stronger.

Do you think President Jonathan should go ahead and contest the 2015 presidential election given the crises his quest is generating?
I think he should contest. Constitutionally, he is allowed two terms and he will not be doing anything outside the constitution if he indicates interest to run. I will come from the angle of those of us from the South-South. We appeal to other zones to support us.

This is the first time we are holding the presidency of this country in 53 years of independence, it is only fair that they support us and we will support them when it is their turn. We in the South-South have been supportive of other zones, we will not support those who come with threats, that is not the way to go democratically, we can only appeal to our brothers in other zones to support us.

As a party, Mr. President has done well, personally he has done excellently well. It is not easy to manage this country if you remember where we are coming from. He has done well in the privatization of the power sector, on the road sector. You hear of the second Niger Bridge.

If you look at the universities, in a period of four to five years, about twelve federal universities were established and about nine of these universities are in the north. He is not a sectional leader as some will want to paint him. He has done extremely well for the country.

What is the position presently on the agitation for power shift to Delta North?
I think the governor summarized it in his outing at the Sun Man of the Year Award, I was with him at the outing and he said it clearly in the interview he granted that the governorship should go to Delta North.

People have been calling on the governor to declare it openly, I think the governor has already done that. He does not need to run advert for that, he has said it to those of us who are core members of the party.

I think he arrived on that from the understanding of the party because the governor himself is a foundation member of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) in Delta state and he knows about the understanding that it should rotate between the three senatorial zones of Delta state.

Also, our leader Chief E.K Clark has re-echoed that it is the turn of Delta North to produce the governor. So for those of us that were there when the party started in Delta state, I think I want to thank the two leaders for taking that firm position despite the noise from those who joined us midway. I want to salute them for their courage.

As it presently stands, there are several aspirants in Delta North. How do you think the zone will select a candidate without rancour if the governorship seat is eventually zoned to the area?
I don’t think there is anything wrong with the number of aspirants from Delta North. I read from the newspaper this week where a senatorial zone in one of the South-East states has 40 aspirants. We in Delta North, I don’t think we have up to 20 aspirants as it presently stands but talking seriously, nothing is wrong with the number. When we get to the bridge, we will know how to cross it.

I was an aspirant in 2006, so I will say I have experience in that business. As we get closer to the primaries, I think the numbers will trim down and I want to use this opportunity to thank the governor because he is using his own formula to reduce the numbers.

So I believe the numbers will come down before the primaries, I can assure you. But beyond that, the front runners in this race, I can say that somehow we are very close.

I believe the race will not make the relationship degenerate into one attacking the other and the governor has been quite instrumental in managing the situation and we the leaders will continue to manage the situation.