By RAZAQ BAMIDELE
Thursday, August 05, 2010
•Okonkwo
Photo: Sun News Publishing

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Senator Annie Okonkwo in his three years at the National Assembly has not ceased to campaign for an equitable policy in state creation. By this campaign he champions, he has steadily advocated that the South East, his geopolitical zone deserves one more state to have as many as others.

Next on his agenda for his zone stems from his position as the deputy chairman of the Senate Committee on Erosion and Ecology. He believes that the president should give executive impetus to Senate resolution to declare a national environmental emergency in the zone.

In this interview he also observed that INEC, having gotten the constitutional framework for a free and credible election in 2011 has no reason not to give Nigeria the next election next year. Senator Okonkwo has more in the discussion.

After three years, what would be your assessment of the present Senate, which you are a member?
I would say that the Senate of this dispensation has shown honest capacity to align with the positive aspirations of the Nigerian people they represent. This Senate expanded the horizon of citizen’s education in the workings of the senate through live telecasts of screenings of major appointments and events. Before, it was only during budget presentations and very special sessions that live telecast are shown to the public.

And even then, such occasions are largely formal. But this Senate opened up the process, and I think we are all richer through the criticisms and appraisals we get. This Senate has also shown uncommon courage in the face of our immediate past national adversity to invoke the stabilizing doctrine of necessity when it was most needed. But very importantly, this Senate just put into place the first successful constitutional amendment undertaken by our national legislature. I think that’s very remarkable and historic. The improved electorate law and the steady support we have shown to INEC to deliver to the people the best and very commendable election next year are good reasons for the Senate to announce its records in the development of the nation’s democracy.

Most Nigerians feel the federal legislators are overpaid. Why didn’t the amendment of the constitution take that into consideration?
I am aware the vocal public feels that Nigerian politicians, not just the legislators alone are overpaid. I also think that they probably arrive at this conclusion based on comparisons with the civil service salary conditions. But I do know that the salary I earn as a Senator fixed by the Revenue and Fiscal Allocation Committee of the executive branch of government is barely sufficient to cover necessities and responsibilities of my office, not luxury.
Most of what is fed to the public does not reflect the true position.

In fact, most senators have been put into difficult situations due to untenable expectations from the public as a result of this unfair hype about fat salaries. I will implore the media to help us balance the information as regards this particular issue and help redeem us from terrible financial pressure. However, salaries and wages are normally issues of constant dialogue between the government and the public, just as the new minimum wage now, which the civil service truly deserves and should be efficiently implemented. States should work hard to implement it as well instead of probably looking for escape. So when the operators of government feel there is need for upward or downward review in order to meet existing realities, of course the senate will not stop them.

Does the recent constitution amendment satisfy your longing or is there any shortfall?
I am happy with the amendment and the way it went. It is a sign that our democracy is growing the way it should. But my painful regret is that the South East did not have a new state created for it as was forcefully argued and nationally accepted by the last senate. The South East is so unfairly shortchanged in all parameters of development because of this glaring injustice.

But I have to add that I am happy to be part of this historic first by the National Assembly with the consent and backing of the state Assemblies. I am delighted at the financial autonomy granted INEC, because that will certainly help enhance their impartiality. The enhancement is to the extent that legislative enactment may not automatically transform to an attitude of impartiality by INEC, if they do not have the will. So they must take full advantage of it to grow and advance the frontiers of true independence as suggested in the name.

How?
Let me illustrate my point clearly on the state creation issue for the South East. The last state creation was in 1996 by the Abacha government, which brought every other region of the six geo political zones to at least six states, except the South East. That was about 14 year ago. Assuming that the least federally disbursed annual allocations to the states has been N30 billion.

Then, South East in the last fourteen years has lost conservatively N420 billion. That is not inclusive of inflows from the ecology fund, derivation dues, excess crude account drawdown, special new state take off grants, and so many other paraphernalia of state apparatus that come with state creation. By the time you add the real loss – human representation in government, more local government areas and the allocations, human capital enhancement, infrastructure, etc, you will find that the real loss would be in the neighbourhood of N800 billion to one trillion naira so far.

My brother, half of that amount will rehabilitate all the federal roads in the South East that has remained the worst in the whole federation. This state of South East roads is also a nationally verified fact. That is why I always feel agitated that this glaring injustice has not been corrected. And that injustice will remain until it is addressed, otherwise the South East remains unjustifiably robbed and denied.

Should the region just resign to fate and watch the situation?
Accept that situation? Certainly not at all. I insist the nation in the spirit of fairness should revive the conscience and make that recommendation a national priority without opposition in the aborted amendment of the last senate. Remember, there is a National Newspaper that has as its motto “conscience is an open wound, only truth can heal it”.

Let us suppress the politics of “we too deserve more states” and heal this long open wound for the South East. It will not hurt anybody at all. In fact, for enduring this pain and denial for that long, the South East should get two more states to make up the huge loss over time. And I honestly pray that the media should help us to deepen this message. The Senate will soon start another constitutional amendment and I will devote all my energy to this pursuit. In fact, I do hope all fair thinkers should do just that.

How do you see the present INEC and the 2011 elections?
Permit me to hold to my chest my views on the present INEC until the coast clears. I would prefer work to be done and we can then make balanced assessments based on their quality of work or otherwise. But I will tell you what I expect INEC to do. With most legislative hurdles out of the way, and going by the support it enjoys, the body should get down to business and let their work speak for them. I urge the federal executive arm to release the requested fund to INEC on time.

I also expect INEC to strictly enforce obedience to regulations both to the political parties and their staff. I expect INEC to break the jinx and give us a credible voter’s register that will form the foundation for reliable electoral data that will stand the test of time, long after they are gone. They cannot afford anything less considering the huge budget for the voter’s register alone. We can afford that necessary sacrifice now, but cannot do that every time we are getting ready for elections. I would suggest to INEC to restore those good old tenets of democratic culture enunciated through fair and transparent process that originated in my home state of Anambra.

In your own state?
Yes. I stand to be corrected that the best of politics in Nigerian political history had its birthplace in present day Anambra. Great Zik was an asset in patience, speech and wisdom. Ikemba Nnewi was brilliant in the army and has remained beautiful in politics. Late Chuba Okadigbo was very colourful, and so it was with so many others. Are they not all from Anambra? Through a credible election, my people will prove to Nigerians that they are not the centre of electoral war, but indeed real lovers of genuine democracy. There are no better lovers of democracy in this nation as the Igbo because of our republican history and antecedents.

What is the position of the two bills you came up with about two years ago?
The Nigerian Essential Commodities Commission Bill or Social Responsibility Bill and the Nigerian Citizens in Diaspora Bill are receiving progressive attention in the Senate. The issues these Bills are seeking to remedy are so fundamental to be ignored. But because they are fundamental, the responsibilities attached to them are also huge. So the Senate is weighing all the options to make sure a legislation that is practicable is finally enacted. I have no doubt, They will soon come to be.

For instance, the Nigerian Citizens in the Diaspora Commission Bill has become a common global discourse of high and mounting interest because their rights and impacts in their domain and places of origin cannot by any stretch of imagination be taken for granted. I am glad that even President Goodluck Jonathan has become the leading advocate of this viewpoint. Nigeria stands to gain enormous economic benefits if her Diaspora citizens are encouraged properly to double or triple their over four billion dollars annual remittances back home. INEC is also being persuaded to see how over 20 million Nigerians in outside the nation could be captured as part of our electoral voting assets. It can be done, and should be done. That’s part of my commitment in the Senate.

Do you plan to return to the Senate in 2011 since your gubernatorial bid failed?
Not long ago, by God’s special favour, I turned 50, and my dear wife, Lady Chinyere Okonkwo and family members surprised me. I came to the understanding that most things we truly appreciate are not things we can give ourselves. I desire to live as long as possible as most people will, and God in His mercy has seen me above fifty and still going strong. In 2007, I sought election to the Senate, and my people made that possible. Now if you ask me, do I desire to go back to the Senate? Yes. Have I made that public? No. Because, the people whose prerogative it is to make that desire a reality must be consulted and their approval gotten.


I agree with all dis talk of Gurara, Igbomina, Savannah etc and nobody is hearing the proposed Adada state or Anioma state, this imbalance still pesists