Dr. Ezeh Emmanuel Ezeh is a scholar and businessman, he was a Federal House of Representatives candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general elections.
An Oxford University trained entrepreneur and industrialist, he is the CEO of the Immaculate Group of Companies.
He is also the current President of the Ebonyi State Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (EBCCIMA
In this interactive interview with journalists in Abakaliki, he bared his mind on key issues affecting Ebonyi State, the lack of effective and competence-backed representation of the state in the National Assembly as well as the fortunes of the Labour Party and the Nigerian and Southeast economy in particular.
Excerpts:
Some people believe that within the last one year that the Labour Party has lost ground compared to the build up to the 2023 General Election. Do you Agree?
No, I do not agree we have lost any of our members, rather, we have gained a lot more converts. Let me firmly assure you that LP members down to the grassroots are ideologically connected in their quest for a New Nigeria and have neither waivered nor lost faith in the course. Those who moved are the politicians that saw LP as a special purpose vehicle to actualize ambitions. If you look at those moving out of LP in Ebonyi state, you will notice they are perennial movers and some are known leaders of AGIP (any government in power).
Let’s not forget that what happened in 2023 was a revolution of ideas birthed by the youths of Nigeria. A peoples’ movement called the Obi-dients. These people are young, urbane, middle class, educated, youthful and entrepreneurial but, largely unemployed and frustrated. They are ideologically connected to an ideal world view that many of the political class do not have the competence to understand nor aspire to. These young Nigerians have seen comrades die crossing the Atlantic Oceans in search of better opportunities, seen many die in the deserts of Ethiopia. They have seen in their travels, the power of innovation, creativity, entrepreneurship and a future that is Nigeria’s. These are not people ready to jump from party to party. They are the real followers of Mr. Obi. Like Kenya, the bubble may yet burst if we continue to be tone deaf to their legitimate demands for the rebirth of a New Nigeria.
You Contested to represent Abakaliki/Izzy Federal Constituency of Ebonyi State and someone is representing the constituency, are you satisfied with the performance of the lawmaker so far?
Frankly, we are yet to see the quality of representation we can point to and say yes, we have a representative. My election was stolen and handed to a man who may be following an unfortunate tradition of underperformance. Preparations is everything. While I had a robust well thought-out manifestos, some simply rode on the back of the establishment. Historically, when people are not prepared for the position they are forced into, effective representation suffers, they naturally join seat warmers at the hallowed chambers in Abuja. Give it to some, they attend social events in Ebonyi State regularly and for them, as long as they show up in birthdays, weddings and funerals, they have done the job. That to me is no representation. Election has consequences. We may have sacrificed competence, capacity, capability and character on the alter of prebendal politics. This is our reality. Every now and then, our people are lined up like beggars in the name of palliatives. Palliatives is a creation of APC’s failed economic dislocations. In a competitive democracy like ours, we ought to send people who can help the sitting governor.
The Abakaliki axis of Ebonyi State has witnessed some security issues, even as an Agric belt, the lawmaker representing the Constituency has not raised any motions on the things that impact the constituency in the last one year, especially with the massive demolitions of peoples property and businesses along Vanco junction. What is your take on this?
You cannot stand something on nothing. Granted that development comes with some discomforts, but the people’s representatives owe the people the duty of care. A show of empathy on the economic and social impacts of the Vanco flyer over project is necessary. Did you see any whimper or show of empathy from representatives? One must be prepared for the difficult but interesting work of a legislature. What is the one single thing we expect from the man that claims to have won an election? Maybe he has very little ideas on how to proceed. Frankly I will be happy to help him. For starters, can he partner closely with the government to ensure those whose business are affected are helped to restart? In our communities, he can work to eliminate incidence of malaria in the constituency? He can pursue legislation to ensure we have 100% child enrollment in school; he can raise legislative action around improved literacy and numeracy, etc. In my Constituency, most of our rural dwellers are still drinking from dirty ponds and streams, can he pursue his constituency project to set up community level water and sanitation resources? These lines of thinking require serious intentionality and capacity to network amongst colleagues. They require system thinkers and builders. I have raised the bar of discussion on federal representation and so do not want to be dragged into prebendal issues of over-priced china street lights and untreated water in the name of boreholes. How can we talk about security, jobs and wealth creation in a situation where those who stole our elections appear focused on benefits they can get to themselves. For them, this is their emilokan opportunity.
In Ebonyi State, we noticed that lawmakers elected to be in the National Assembly are more constantly in Abakaliki to attend one ceremony or another in the company of the governor, even when their various committees and indeed National Assembly are busy with plenary and oversight duties. Do you think this is right?
People can only give what they have. For some, part of their self-chosen assignment is to follow the governor around, attend ceremonies and go back to Abuja on weekly basis. The reality staring us in our faces is that only few of our representatives know their job descriptions, for others, its all about hero-worshipping the governor or anyone they think can sustain their access to power. What exactly do some of them bring to the table in their various committees. A man who knows he has nothing to offer will conscientiously use the governor as a shield. Many know they did not win their elections and so, they have to stick close to the sit of power. Unlike before, the people are watching them keenly.
What is your take on Federal Lawmakers that don’t seem to be able to move motions or contribute to motions, even those that affect their constituencies and the state?
After one year in office, with humongous salaries, allowances and allocations, I am yet to point to any major contribution, the honourable member representing Abakaliki/Izzi Federal Constituency has made at the National Assembly debates. If there are efforts he has made, I will gladly praise and encourage such efforts. He is my brother after-all. I am yet to see even his constituency office that is active and operational. These are the basic irreducible minimum. Where will your constituents see you? How many inclusive and expansive town halls meetings have you held over a period of 365 days of representation? Like I said, I am willing to help him with robust ideas if he so requests. If he reaches out, he can get ideas and help from willing constituents. For instance, I challenge him to take one or two communities, focus legislative agenda on few critical issues affecting such communities. Instead of fake Chinese street lights, get those communities connected to the national grid, ensure they have access to meters and properly managed public utilities. Instead of sinking boreholes indiscriminately, develop a community level water treatment plants using combined efforts of LGA, State, Federal and World bank agencies. Many of our rural areas cannot be accessed especially during rainy seasons for something as simple as culverts. Work with the governor to declare a culvert revolution in our communities. Under most federal agencies, there are ‘idle’ funds lying there, waiting for creative ideas to access them. There are examples he can learn from, let him visit the former member representing Aninri/Oji River Federal Constituency, Hon, Tobi Okechukwu and see the wonders he did in his federal constituency. Roads, schools, water projects, geo-informatics surveys, house codings, mappings, etc.
In Ebonyi and Enugu states, we have seen lawmakers elected on the platform of the LP defect to the ruling party in the states, if you had been elected to the house, would you have taken a different path and what is your take on this current situation?
While it is easy for politicians to defect where the pendulum swings, the case is different for Patriots. I am a patriot. I was one of the strongest supporters of Izhi project (a pressure group that supported zoning of the governorship ticket, especially to Izhi clan). We spent time, financial and mental resources to put structures in place that came handy at the appointed time. I supported the election of Gov Nwifuru despite the electoral heist they executed against my victory. Again, the current governor is not just a brother, but a personal friend, traditionally, we share the same ancestry. He has respected my decision to stay in my party and I see that as a mark of respect. I believe he appreciates that the issues are beyond my personal advantages. Many of those following the governor around today didn’t give him any chance. I did, and if I had worked against his election, we could have divided the votes in the North. Remember, I was the most popular candidate from Ebonyi North Zone outside the incumbent in 2023. The votes I gathered from Abakaliki LGA alone in the last election was more than the entire votes of the entire Ebonyi South Senatorial Zone for all candidates of both HOR and Senatorial. I am a major force, they can pretend not to pay attention, but in hush tones, they discuss the capacity we brought to bear.
Back to the core of your question, I think those who are abandoning their elected platforms may be opportunists, many of who have decided to dig graves on their political life journey. I also disagree with governors who think they can create a one party system in their states. What they may succeed in doing is to create a façade of unity, peace of the grave yard, but most dangerously creating a bubble that will burst because there is no sincerity in such moves. Many of the political big weights may already be on the menu to be dis-membered and retired into permanent obscurity. If my election had stood, I would have set a model for legislative cooperation never seen in our state. If the focus were about the people, then working together would not have been a problem. I am not a politician, I am a patriot, so I approach issues with a solution mindset.
The Presidential Candidate of Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, despite the experiences of the last general election has plunged headlong into the political space since after the elections and court processes. You have always prided yourself as the Peter Obi of Ebonyi State, are you following Mr. Peter Obi’s strategy or do you have a different style? Are you preparing to run another election in 2027?
Everyone knows I am the Peter Obi of Ebonyi politics judging by the capacity we showed in 2023 HOR and Presential elections. Under 3 months, we built a coalition never seen in Ebonyi politics, we took away issues of religion, clan and political divisions. In most instances, other party agents were the people fighting to protect our votes. We were able to match them and surprisingly defeated them even in their so called strong holds. Our greatest undoing were those who were planted in our midst by APC, they simply sold us out even before the election. So you ask me if I am preparing for another election, the answer is unequivocal NO. We won, but couldn’t protect our votes, many people took risks to vote for us but the system sabotaged their efforts. I wont be putting people to danger unless I know that the electoral system is cleaned up, such that decent men and women can participate. I participated in the last election based on the assurances from INEC, but those assurances were never taken seriously. I have always wondered how Festus Okoye that was in charge of voter education sleeps at night. He either deliberately lied to the Nigerian people or was thrown under the bus by the system.
The organized private sector has been at the forefront of the agitation for creating a sustainable living environment for the people, do you think they will succeed? Recently Ebonyi Governor was at an overseas trip and many were disappointed that he didn’t take leading members of the private sector with him, especially you who is the leader of the Private in Ebonyi State. Is the governor not willing to work with you?
Some of us are available and willing to work together with the government to advance the business operating environment. Recently, one of my companies is in talks to bring in some serious investors to the state. I found it inchoate and limiting to go looking for investors in foreign lands when you have not encouraged your local businessmen and entrepreneurs. Who were the entrepreneurs on the governor’s team? These foreigners are no fools, they know when we are serious and when we want paid photo ops. Entrepreneurship development are grand governance issues, the government should work closely with its private sector groups after all, this is the time for the governance. The government is our government, unless we are not ready for real governance. During the campaigns, the governor promised to work with the opposition, a promise he is yet to fulfill. On my part, I had expected that given our collective struggles during the election, the first thing to do was not to kill opposition but embrace a government of state unity. We cannot all be in one party, it’s unnatural and undemocractic. Opposition is a major stake in every democracy. Look at government of Tinubu, the best performers are from the opposition members appointed into the cabinet, because they have no sense of entitlements. They either perform or get sacked.
Labour Party has been engulfed in crisis of leadership and most elected leaders of the party has take a somewhat unconcerned disposition, do you think they share any connection to the fate of Labour party?
What is happening in Labour Party is part of our challenges as a people. We are not used to institutional development. Otherwise, how can people not respect oaths of office taken? Tenure ends, you want to sit tight, yet you want to be vehicle that births a New Nigeria. Light and darkness cannot go together. The beautiful thing about what’s happening is that owners of LP are not the usual political jobbers, The party belongs to the people and the Nigerian workers.
In this journey, many battles will be fought and stabilizing the Labour Party is one of those battles. Many of us have moved in to become part of the solution. We need a vehicle that is clean to bring in a clean system. The job of cleaning this vehicle has started and is led by Mr. Peter Obi himself.
We must appreciate that most of our National Assembly members were first timers, political rookies and green horns who are struggling to find their feet in the red ocean of politics. I believe that when the time comes, Mr Peter Obi who is our leader will engage with them. Many of them know that without the Obidients and Mr. Peter Obi, their aspirations would have come to nothing. Yes, there is deep connections and we pray such connections continue to get stronger.
Without making excuses for them however, I believe that the failure of Abure’s leadership during the campaigns left a sour feeling of abandonment where each person was struggling to survive as a lone wolf.
The bottom line for us is that we are learning fast as we move along. In Ebonyi, we are making efforts to build a united front and are not bothered by the many voices out there. After all, noise making is part of politics. The ultimate goal is to build consensus and we are making good progress in that regards