Enugu PDP stalwart, Deacon Okey Ogbodo, recently bared his mind on burning national issues especially on the bloody attacks by herdsmen in parts of the country. Excerpts:

By Emma Nnadozie

Do you think the governor of Enugu State has done enough to assure the people of the state of their safety given the recent attack by suspected herdsmen in Uzo-Uwani?

The governor that I know, that we have all seen, is a man that places high premium on security of life and property of Enugu citizens and residents. He is known to be ordinarily proactive on such matters and never compromises.

Even with regards to the Uzo-Uwani massacre, it has been revealed that the Governor took concrete steps and, in fact, presided over a Security Council meeting that lasted into the early hours of the day of the attack.

But we must also appreciate the enormity of the handicap of state governors who are supposed to be Chief Security Officers of their respective states, without having commanding powers over the security agencies, namely police, army, the civil defence and DSS.

Heads of these agencies take orders only from Abuja, a situation that leaves the governor virtually as figure-head on security matters. Perhaps, this situation lends justification to calls by some people for establishment of state police.

Governor Ugwuanyi is able and willing to do the needful to keep the peace and safeguard life and property of our people, but only to the extent that he has control.

We need to re-examine our present model to assist governors perform optimally but even in the interim, our governor is working.

How would you rate Governor Ugwuanyi after one year in office?

He has not done badly. I have always maintained that I know this man… he is capable of meeting our reasonable expectations, within available resource.

It has been so tight with revenues, whether federal allocation or Internally-Generated Revenue (IGR). Even with those financial limitations, the state government has substantially met its obligations, especially to workers, and in the area of provision of housing, maintenance and creation of new road networks like the 9th Mile corner double by-pass, etc. It is too early in the day, but the early signs are good.

Has losing the centre – the federal government to APC affected the potency or functionality of PDP in your state?

I don’t think so. Why? Because, Enugu is PDP right through. But we must not take things for granted.

More than ever before, we have to now look over our shoulders and watch out for our adversaries – our political opponents, who are vigilant and keen to cash in on our mistakes or non-performance.

You are interested in becoming the next chairman of PDP in Enugu State… how optimistic are you?

You can’t even venture into any endeavour if you do not have the conviction that God is able. My God is able indeed. With the support of His Excellency, the Governor, who is our leader, and our loyal and steadfast party men and women, I am optimistic the project is realizable.

What mistakes for instance, do you think PDP should avoid to remain relevant in Enugu?

In Enugu, we as a political party have not fallen short, so we cannot be talking about mistakes that never existed. But as a political party, we can always get better as in all other human endeavours. Also, we can learn from experiences of people of other areas where “mistakes” to use your own expression, were made. Justice and equity are both cardinal principles of a fair society but which are often sacrificed on the altar of exigencies.

Any political dealing in which justice and equity have been relegated to the background or ignored, won’t be a fair one. The hallmark of participatory democracy is equitable representation of all component units, whether in the provision of dividends of democracy or sharing of elective or appointive offices. During elections or after, everybody ought to continue to count.

The way you sermonize about justice makes one wonder the brand of politics you play… (cuts in).

My own brand of politics is founded on truth and justice, because am also a minister of the Gospel. I began my political life as a trade unionist where you fight for your colleagues first and foremost and then yourself as member of the group.