Endorsement from a bad government amounts to nothing –Odedo

[Mirror]

Hon. Charles Odedo represents the people of Idemili North/South of Anambra State in the House of Representatives. The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, in this interview speaks on next Saturday's governorship election in Anambra State, his programmes and aspirations for his constituents.

The All Progressive Grand Alliance said that it has done well in the last eight years in Anambra State with the government of Governor Peter Obi. It has also promised that its gubernatorial candidate, Chief Willie Obiano would continue in the same way. What is your view on this?

They want continuity but we want change. This is a debate we welcome anytime. Now, let me tell you why there must be change in Anambra State. In term of security of lives and property, Anambra State government led by Peter Obi has not done well at all. Anambra State is the last in the entire country. This is a statistics from the police. South- East zone is the most insecure zone in the country and Anambra State is worse. Do we want to continue to be the last in terms of security? We do not want continuity of last position, we want change.

Our governorship candidate, Senator Chris Ngige, has been governor before and under his watch, Anambra State has one of the best security system. Our people knew what Senator Ngige did when he was governor and it is better to trust someone we knows because experience counts. He has done it before and will do it again even better. In the areas of education, students in Anambra State University pay the highest fees in Nigeria education history and on that basis Anambra State is also last in education.

For example the school fees at Anambra State University, Uli, is over N130,000 for academic year and this is excluding other dubious fees. Our party, the APC, Anamwith our well known candidate, a former governor, is the best choice for a better education system.

When Ngige was governor between May 2003 and March 2006, he introduced free education up to JSS 3. The shocking thing is that Obi was sworn into office on March 17, 2006 and he introduced school fees retrospectively and forced Anambra students to pay school fees the terms that they had enjoyed free education. In other words, Obi introduced school fees in arrears.

Again, teachers in Anambra's higher institution are the least paid in the country. So it is last and Obiano wants to continue with everything Obi is doing. About 11 courses, including Law lost accreditation when Nigeria University Commission visited the school for inspection.

Obi claimed to have constructed over 800 kilometers of road, that claim is contestable and even the blind can see that the roads built by APGA administration lacks quality. For example, in Afor Market Square, Nnobi, the road has been constructed and reconstructed up to five times within the last seven years.

Go to Afor Nnobi now and see for yourself. The road is decorated with huge pot holes. We want change. We need Ngige's quality roads. Anambra State government is making a mockery of youth employment and job creation. A governor that has not created a single job throughout almost eight years of its administration and now suddenly with less than five months to leave is advertising that they want to employ 5,000 teachers. Of course, Anambra people know that this is an election gimmick and have paid no attention to it. I can go on and on.

Next Saturday, the people of Anambra will decide who to govern them come March 17, 2014. What are the plans and programmmes of your party for Anambra people?

APC has a 12-point agenda for Anambra people and I will just try to summarise them. First of all, we plan to ensure security of lives and property. As you know, our candidate has been governor before and he did very well. We are confident that he will ensure security of lives and property.

Our party, the APC, through our manifesto has articulated our plans and programmes for Anambra people. These plans include: Free primary education, free secondary education, access to public education, scholarship award to deserving students and bursary award for students in tertiary institutions.

In the health sector, our plan is to give Anambra people free antenatal medical services for all pregnant women, free primary medical care for children up to five years of age. Under an APC government, Anambra State will get a brand new airport by the end of 2014.

An inland waterways transport system to serve the river line areas of Anambra East and West, Ogbaru, Anyamelum and Awba Otemili in Awka North Local Government Area will be introduced. So also will be put in place, a mono rail transport system to connect the major cities of Akwa, Onitsha and Nnewi in the first phase and Otuocha, Abagana and Ekwulobia for the second phase.

How confident are you that your party will win the November 16 governorship election considering the political gladiators in the race?

The coming election will be a landslide victory for our candidate, Ngige (ONWA). I have gone round the state, everywhere you go, it is the same story. We need this man back to come and salvage the state. His performance when he was governor before is our greatest asset.

Don't you think that the agitation of the people of Anambra North in conjunction with the governor's support that the zone will produce the next governor, will reduce the chances of your party?

No, not at all. Anambra people want the best. Obi's government has not performed and therefore cannot influence who succeed it.

There is insecurity in the land. There is massive youth unemployment. The education system is not working. Anambra is the only state where workers do not receive minimum wage. An endorsement from a bad government will amount to nothing. However, it will be a landslide victory for Ngige of APC. His experience and performance as former governor is our greatest strength. Our people want him. He is the best man for the job.

Recently, you launched a N50 million scholarship fund at your constituency. What actually motivated you?

My N50 million scholarship fund launched few days ago by Speaker. of House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, is my way of helping our people lessen the heavy burden of excessive fees being charged by this government. I gave out scholarship award to about 300 students of Idemili North and South Federal constituency that I represent in the House of Representatives.

My motivation came from the fact that there is no more access to public education in Anambra State. The state government has rightfully given back many schools to their original owners without an attempt to build new government schools.

The effect is that, depending on where you live, you may not be able to access a government school and the fees being charged by these private schools are increasingly getting higher and out of reach to most parents. It is becoming unbearable. My scholarship programme will last for three years and will gulp about N50 million.

The funny thing about how bad our education system has gotten is better described. For example, the award to tertiary students is almost N100,000 for academic year, in the entire country.

This amount will be enough to cover school fees for one academic year but not so in Anambra State. Anambra State University charges over N130, 000 in school fees alone. My award is meant to help lessen the burden of excessive fees being charged by Anambra State government.

With all these you said, do you think you have done enough for your constituency?

Well, I believe that I have done well. I am still in the House of Representatives and I will continue to work hard for my people. I have just presented my mid-term report card and have enumerated my achievements so far. I told my people to expect more from me.