Umenzekwe calls for calm as FG battles rising cost of petroleum products …Appeals for Nnamdi Kanu’s release

Honourable (Chief) Modestus Umenzekwe, (Onwa Achina) has called on Nigerians to be calm as the Federal Government is doing all that is necessary to mitigate rising cost of petroleum products and other goods and services, this is aside appealing for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

Chief, first of all, we want to commend you that for decades now you have been talking, analysing, making suggestions, all aimed at nation-building, bringing about growth exponentially and no doubt, you have been known for this nationally and internationally. So we say keep it up.

Now, looking at what is happening in the country, Nigerians are divided concerning the way things are going, some are saying take us back to Egypt and let’s suffer, rather than die in the desert, while some say, rather than taking us back to Egypt let’s keep going, one day we will get to the promise land. So we want you to make a random kind of comparison between Nigeria of pre 2015 and post 2015 Nigerian era politically, economically, etc.

You see, that question is somehow. First of all, you must understand that Nigeria is evolving, evolving in the sense that what happened yesterday may not happen today, just like in the western world, America for example was evolving; they evolved and are still evolving. That is what we are going through. So why are you narrowing it down between before 2015 and after 2015 till now? It is an indirect way of asking me the question you asked me the other day about PDP and APC, that is exactly where you are going.

If you want to start comparison about the way we are evolving, you will start from pre-independent era, till now and you can see certain changes. You can marry it with what is happening in your own family, there are ups and downs, here and there. It is still a process of evolving. So drawing comparison now is too early as far as I am concerned. In my past interviews, I said and I still maintain that, we would be able to start drawing comparisons after 16 years rule of APC. That is the much I can tell you. The future is pregnant, we don’t know what tomorrow will give; we are undergoing reformation, so let us see the result of that reformation before we will be able to talk.

Do you think the Renewed Hope agenda of the Tinubu Administration is yielding the desired result?

This question is like the first question you asked me. We are undergoing reformation, and that is why it is called Renewed Hope. And when you have hope that has not been totally realised, and you came to renew it, you have to go through a lot of things. So the answer is the same thing as the first question, we are undergoing reformation and I believe and I hope that the reformation will lead us to the promise land, despite negative narrations here and there, which is normal in any democratic governance. If those things are not there the president may relax, those negative reactions will make him to look at all the sides of policy formation to know the ones he is retaining and the ones to cancel. So it is good for us. So we are undergoing reformation, everyone is undergoing reformation, the president, having come from activism family alike is undergoing another side of reformation.

The Prices of Petroleum products have hit the rooftops in one year of Tinubu Administration, what is the way out?

Yes, it is really worrisome, I must admit that, and the president himself and his team are worried. They are doing something, I don’t want to preempt them now, let us see what they come out with, because I learnt that they are doing something serious to make sure that prices of petroleum products come down. So I wouldn’t like to start setting agenda for him when he is already doing something. If I perceive he is relaxed I can be talking, but I believe he understands the pains Nigerians are going through, and knowing him as a man endowed with academic and natural wisdom he will do something and I believe we are going to smile in the end.

Do you think there is a department of this Government that needs to be rejigged for optimal performance?

Whatever we are doing I assume that it is okay, what I describe as near perfect performance. It is only God that is perfect, that is why it is called near perfect, even though the one we called near perfect needs to be rejigged in order to make it perfect. So he is already rejigging the economic policies. But where we need more serious attention is security. Security is very very important; and I believe he is doing something about it, taking into cognizance the statements, assurances given by the Inspector General of Police, the Chief of Defense Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, the Nigerian Intelligence Agency, and all other paramilitary security agencies, but then we are citizens, we have our own responsibility to get the security agencies equipped with intelligence information for them to act, because without intelligence report, the action agencies will find it difficult to act. So these areas need to be rejigged further. They have been doing something but more effort, extra effort, should be applied.

The legislative and judicial arms of government are crucial in democracy. In fact, the legislature for many represents democracy because they make up the bulk of the people’s representatives in any democracy. Now do you think these two arms are doing enough to watch over the activities of the Executive arm in this country? Of course, even though they are separate, they still have oversight functions among them for the betterment of the country.

You see, the judiciary, the executive and the legislative arms of government have different functions, but those different functions cannot work without synergy, otherwise it will be a total failure. So I believe they are performing their statutory functions, they may not be very perfect, but I can see the synergy going on among them. I don’t want to start reeling out the achievements they have made. You know in this country some people do not like to acknowledge anything good somebody else has made, they keep on puncturing, as if those people are not working at all. It is just like when people say, the police are not doing anything, that statement is very laughable, if the police go on strike for one hour in this country, we will all abandon our homes. So we should be able to acknowledge the little effort our leaders are doing, that does not mean that they are perfect, that does not mean they are not making some mistakes, but I believe they are doing their work in as much as their efforts are not yet enough to take us to where we supposed to be. So we must encourage them to do more. But all I can say is that there is synergy among the three arms of government of Nigeria.

Chief let’s go to your state. Next year is Governorship Election in Anambra State; can you tell us or let us into the character of the person APC in Anambra State is presenting for that position? We are not saying there is a particular person now, but what qualities are you looking for?

Why is every person interested in Anambra? Well it gives me joy because it is my state, I can now see the importance of that state in this country. Every person from North, South, East, is interested in Anambra State. Any journalist that comes to my office, even if there is no election will ask me about Anambra. It is a thing of joy and I am glad I come from Anambra, one of the best states in this country, located at the heart of Igbo land. To God be the glory.

Coming to your question, APC will give you a very credible candidate that is stainless, that has character, very prudent, that has integrity, cool headed and seasoned in human and resources management. That is much I can say now.

Again your advice to the Federal Government concerning Nnamdi Kanu, there is need for peace in the eastern part of the country believed to be where the man comes from

In my last interview with The Nation Newspaper, I appealed to the federal government and I appealed to the president, whom I know is endowed with a lot of wisdom, to please, release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. Let him be released, all these legalities and all that, let that young man be released. I am still appealing to the president. He may not have the legal powers, but he is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.  And I believe he will do that. It is a passionate appeal and I will continue to appeal for him to be released.

What do you think Government can do to bring down the cost of goods and services in the country?

It is related to the first question, all of them are related to the economy which the federal government is working on. The coordinating minster of the economy and his team are doing something. As I said, since they are already in the game, there is no need setting agenda for them because they already know what is going on. They are experts, they know better. The most important thing is let them bring out policies that will make Nigerians breathe because the president said it, let the poor breathe.

Do you think Nigerians should vote Tinubu for the second time come 2027 and why?

What I don’t like is reading class two when you have not finished class one. We are still in the 2nd year of the administration and you are talking about 2027. However, for you not to think I am dodging the question, President Tinubu’s economic policies will soon start yielding fruits, and those good fruits will snowball into voting him again in 2027 for the second tenure if he so desires to contest.

Do you think Nigeria is doing enough on climate change, considering how flooding is ravaging many parts of the country especially Maiduguri, Borno State?

I am not a geography expert, and I don’t want to dabble into areas I may not defend very well; to start talking about whether we are doing enough or not on climate change is too scientific and I don’t want to go into that. The only thing I can say is to appeal to the federal government to come to the rescue of these states affected by flooding. When I watched what was happening in Borno State, I pitied the young man Professor Governor, Babagana Umaru Zulum, a perfect gentleman, the much I know him, I pitied the entire state that has been walloped by insecurity as a result of Boko Haram insurgency, it is a very very pitiable situation. I was talking about what happened in Zamfara, Adamawa and Yobe, but that of Borno is unbearable. However, I thank Mr President to have ordered the Vice President to step in to assess the quantum of damage and I want to eulogise Kashim Shettima because I saw him on Television walking inside the river, of course in as much as it is his state, but you can send somebody and he would not do that. So with that I think the federal government is doing something, but above all, let us pray for these people because with God all things are possible. And if you have brothers and sisters over there, call them, anything you can do to help, please do so.

Your message to Nigerians

My message to Nigerians is that they should exercise patience, be prayerful, and be nonviolent in whatever they are doing. God will definitely bring us out of the wood, because it is affecting everybody. The difficulty we are facing in Nigeria is the same thing all over the world, America is facing difficulty, Britain is facing difficulty, China, Russia are facing difficulty, it is all over the world, therefore, we must exercise patience and take life easy.

Your advice for Igbo youths in Lagos

I commend them, I congratulate them on their determination to succeed in life, for their entrepreneurial attitude, for not depending on anybody for survival, let them keep it up and remain very peaceful.