Hon Mao Ohuabunwa represented Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives from 1999-2003, where he was the Deputy Leader of the House. In this interview with Patrick Obi, he spoke about President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda, the ongoing National Confab and the massive transformation of Abia State by Governor Theodore Orji among other salient issues. Excerpts:
What is your reaction to the current security challenge in the country?
It is worrisome. Any right thinking human being will condemn it, it is highly condemnable and unacceptable. What are we turning ourselves into? We are human beings that should be our brother’s keeper; we should protect lives with whatever we have. And if some people have resorted to just bombing people, killing and maiming innocent children, killing women, others, without any course, I think it is not justified and I know that the Almighty God will not let them go free. Look, so many things happening in Nigeria today are not physical, most of them are spiritual, so we need to re-dedicate Nigeria back to God and let the spirit of God arise to also help us.
Are you in consonance with critics that say the federal government is not doing just enough to abate the insecurity tide?
Well, there is no time you can do enough as far as security is concerned. We urge them to do more, you can’t do enough but again it behoves on all of us as Nigerians, as leaders, as followers to be security conscious. Security is not one man’s business, we should all get involved and make sure we are secured, Nigeria is secured. We expect the federal government to provide the enabling environment, the resources and the wherewithal but we as Nigerians should ensure that we also get involved in ensuring that our neighbourhood and environment is secured by whatever means possible.
What is your take on the on-going national conference?
The National Conference is a worthy project because you can see that for a long time now it’s like Nigeria has been like a bottle drink, highly carbonated, when you pop it up it will blow up, so what I am saying is that it is high time we got together to discuss our existence. Nigeria today, we say we have celebrated 100 years, so if we have celebrated a century living together, then it’s time for us to review our existence. So for me there is nothing wrong in convoking this conference, at least for whatever its worth let’s talk, let’s discuss our relationship. This country is not the way our founding fathers created or planned it. After all we were three regions to four, we were into a kind of federalism and we say we are federal Republic of Nigeria but today are we a federal republic in practice? Are we practicing true federalism? So we should review that and I am one of those who believe that there should be devolution of powers because the centre is too choked. The states should get involved more than what is happening today. You should be surprised that when things happen everybody blames the federal government but what about the states? What is happening at the state and local government levels? They are also arms government, they also get from the federal account, so what exactly is happening? I think some of these things should be looked into. Are we still working in equity, fairness and justice? I think we should sit down, review and properly address the issues, look at the areas that are not right, see how to appease those we have not treated rightly. For me there is need to discuss Nigeria, lets discuss first then what ever the outcome will be, will be a different matter. The confab has come at the right time, whatever it is worth lets discuss.
But don’t you think that discussing alone without the will to implement recommendations is another waste of time?
When you get to the river you cross it, you cannot implement without discussing, you discuss, have a resolution then you talk about implementation. So implementation comes after a resolution. Now we are discussing and after this stage we will begin to talk of if it will go through the national assembly or by referendum, which way it will be, both the national assembly and Nigerians will take a position that will be binding when all is set. When the national assembly sees that it is a resolution by Nigerians, it will become a bit binding. We are all interested in moving this country forward so let’s come together and look at the best way forward for Nigeria.
What is your assessment of the performance of your state governor, Chief Theodore Orji?
As a key player and participant, I can honestly tell you that governance in Abia under the leadership of Ochendo, as we call him, has done quite a lot. We have witnessed massive progress in all sectors. First and foremost, I tell people that I have been part of it and you could see that today the difference is clear, we have political harmony in Abia state, there is political stability and this for me is a foundation for infrastructural development, foundation for growth, foundation for success etc. This is because development will come in a conducive, peaceful environment. An environment that is not peaceful no matter how you try, development will not come there. Before now, for 12 years, there was no peace in Abia, there was no infrastructural development, there was no economic development, there was nothing good to show but now, there is calm, peace as the governor has brought everybody on board and we now have a kind of consensus government where everybody is carried along. We no longer have the divisive factions like the Abuja faction, Lagos faction or home faction. Everybody has been integrated to work together and that is the reason there is no single opposition. One or two people that you find making noise are just seeking for political relevance.
I can tell you that there is no sector that has not been positively touched despite the meagre resources of the state. It is now that Abians can beat their chests and say the foundation of the state has been laid. I am not saying it is Uhuru yet but a journey of 1000km start with a step and the state is today moving and in the right direction. Darkness has disappeared in this state if you understand where we were before this administration. This was a state christened ‘’God’s own state’’ but dedicated to idols and idols must take charge but today God has taken His glory, things are moving well because God is using Ochendo to transform the state for real. Today you can see everything coming on: secretariat, markets, government house, hospitals and health centres well equipped, agricultural farms, massive housing projects, new schools built and old one rehabilitated, good roads being constructed etc. All hands are on deck from the legislature, judiciary and the executive, all are working in harmony to ensure that the state is working. He has laid a solid foundation that others will build upon. From 2015, a new Nigeria will begin to evolve where fairness, justice, equity etc will be the order of the day, where the fulcrum will be the people as defined in democracy as government of the people for the people and by the people. That is why I want to go to the senate to be among those to fashion out the new dream.
Do you have fears for 2015?
Well, as an individual one may want to, because with what is happening if not properly checked it will be bad and with elections coming, definitely every election period is one to worry about, a period for tension to rise because there is so much at stake. So I may not really say I have fear but government should try to a large extent to ensure we reduce the tension, especially the violence in the land. We will overcome.
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