‘Despite 2023 setback, APC can win in Abia’

Chinenye Anyim was the first All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Abia State. He also served as the party’s first National Vice Chairman for the Southeast. In this interview with Correspondent SUNNY NWANKWO, he speaks on the Alex Otti administration and how the APC can bounce back in the state.

Are you still active in politics?

I took a break from politics after being appointed Southeast representative on the National Pension Commission (PenCom). During that time, I was less active in politics, which might have led people to think I had left the scene.

But there is a proverb in my place that says when the mother hen forbids scratching, what will she use to feed her chicks? Politics has become part of me, to the glory of God. It is not proper for me to say that I have retired from politics at this stage of my life. I have not retired.

Abia APC is said to be balkanised. Which faction do you belong to?

Abia APC is not divided. Right now, there is only one APC in the state. People exaggerate when they talk about splits or factions in Abia APC.

Like every family, there can be misunderstandings. You disagree to agree, and that is healthy in a true democracy. We listen to different views. Where there are dissenting opinions, you sit down and resolve them. That is why people think there is a problem.

Right now, Abia APC has one chairman, Dr. Kingsley Ononogbu, and one secretary, K.C. Avoaja. No one else can claim to be the party chairman. That shows there is only one APC in Abia State.

The APC did not perform well in the 2023 general election. What do you think went wrong?

In 2023, our governorship candidate was Chief Ikechi Emenike. Meanwhile, Dr. Alex Otti, who is now the governor, ran on the Labour Party (LP) ticket.

It’s worth noting that before Otti became governor, he was a strong APC member and was well-positioned to become our governorship candidate before Emenike.

Many factors were involved. The Obi wave in the Southeast had a significant impact, affecting more than just the LP. Also, people like Alex Otti left the APC shortly before the election, taking their supporters with them. We hope these things won’t happen again.

Some observers say the process that produced the APC’s 2023 governorship candidate hurt the party. Do you agree?

No selection process makes everyone happy. That’s true in every political party. What matters is maturity. After the primaries, people should put differences aside and work together to win elections.

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In 2015, you and others, such as Donatus Nwankpa and Rochas Okorocha, were mocked for joining the APC. How do you feel today?

When we started the APC, our opponents mocked us and called us names. Now, many of those same people want to join the party, and some already have. What’s interesting is that our vision has stayed the same. Many who once mocked us now see what we saw years ago. We thank God for how far the party has come.

Some people feel you have been sidelined despite your contributions to the APC in Abia. Is that true?

No one has sidelined me, and no one can. People like me can’t be pushed aside.

There are basic facts critics can’t ignore. I was one of the 89 people who formed the APC. I was the first National Vice Chairman for the Southeast and the first APC governorship candidate in Abia State. After me came Dr. Sampson Ogah and then Chief Ikechi Emenike. So, there’s nothing to sideline.

What are the chances of the APC winning the Abia governorship election in 2027?

Our chances are strong, even stronger than before. One tree doesn’t make a forest. With the many political heavyweights now in the Abia APC, we’re not afraid of any election.

Even with Governor Otti’s incumbency advantage?

We know incumbency is an advantage, but we’ve also seen incumbents lose re-election.

Are you still nursing the ambition to govern Abia State?

As you know, I was the first APC governorship candidate in Abia, and I’m still with the party. Dreams and visions don’t die.

The Bible says in Habakkuk that a vision is for an appointed time. It might be fulfilled by you or someone else, but the vision itself lives on.

If you lose the APC ticket in 2027, would you support whoever emerges?

Yes. There are many aspirants in the APC. Whoever wins the ticket through a fair process will get support from others. Our main goal is for the APC to govern Abia State, just as we do at the national level.

There are rumours that Governor Alex Otti wants to return to the APC. Would you welcome him?

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Of course. Otti was once a member of the APC. Politics is like a family—you can leave today and come back tomorrow to reach your goals. If he decides to return, he is welcome and free to do so. Some APC leaders have even been urging him to return to his roots. The Bible talks about first love, and in this democratic dispensation, his first love was the APC.

Are you personally calling for his return?

If he wants to return, he is welcome to do so. Some worry that if he comes back, party leaders will interfere with his work. But he is the governor and has executive powers. Who can tell him how to govern? Where are those people now, and what have they achieved?

As a founding member of the APC, has the party performed well since 2015?

You have to look at where Nigeria was before 2015. The APC didn’t create the problems Nigeria faces today; we inherited them.

It’s not perfect, but there have been achievements. There’s progress in some areas, and not everything is negative. The APC government has tackled some critical issues.

How would you assess Governor Otti’s performance so far?

He has done well in his own way. All governors today, including Otti, have received more federal funds. There’s been a financial boost compared to past years.

With these resources, no governor has an excuse not to perform. It would be wrong to have so much and not do well. So yes, he is doing well and making efforts.

Your view contrasts with that of Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who accused the governor of wasting resources. Is that a contradiction?

No. These things are relative. There’s a value-for-money audit. From what I’ve seen, it wouldn’t be fair to say Otti has done nothing, especially compared to past administrations. The Federal Government has also invested a lot in states, so governors are expected to perform.

Igbos have long complained of marginalisation. Has the situation improved?

Yes, things have improved. There is hope now. We have the Southeast Development Commission. Roads such as the Enugu–Port Harcourt Expressway and the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway are under construction.

There are more federal projects in the Southeast now than before. This has happened in just a few years. With more time, we’ll see even more progress.

Peter Obi has joined the ADC and may contest the presidency. Should he step aside for President Tinubu?

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Every Nigerian has the right to vote and to be voted for. No one should be denied that right.

As an APC member, I’ll support President Bola Tinubu because he would be flying the party’s flag. I also believe that many Igbos, after seeing what the administration has done, will help him achieve even more by voting for him in 2027.

What do you think about Tinubu’s economic policies, especially the new tax law?

The new tax law went into effect on January 1. It’s too soon to judge it completely. We need to see how it works in practice.

This government knows people are suffering and is working to fix it. If a policy doesn’t work, the government will make changes.

For example, removing the fuel subsidy was hard at first, but now fuel is available, and prices are not fixed. Rice used to be scarce and expensive during Christmas, but now it’s easy to find. We shouldn’t criticize everything.

How would you assess the Federal Government’s handling of insecurity?

Insecurity was a big problem in the past. Fighting insecurity is tough, just as fighting corruption is. The government needs support from Nigerians to succeed.

The conviction of Nnamdi Kanu has generated controversy. Do you support calls for a political solution?

Yes, a political solution is the best way to resolve the issue.

What is your advice to Abians and Ndi Igbo on the ongoing voter revalidation exercise?

People should register to vote and exercise their voting rights. If you don’t register, you deny yourself a voice. The registration exercise is a chance to change what we don’t like by voting. Registration lets you help shape good governance.