Mrs. Uche Ekwunife is a two -term
member of the House of
Representatives for Anaocha/
Njikoka/Dunukofia federal
constituency. She contested for
the governorship seat of Anambra
State in 2010 on the platform of
Peoples Progressives Alliance, PPA.
In this interview, Ekwunife spoke on
her governorship ambition, the
crisis in her party, APGA among
other issues Excerpts.
Are you going to contest the
governorship election?
This is to tell my brothers and
sisters in Anambra State that I am
contesting for that position in the
election. I also wish to state that I
am not just coming out to join the
bandwagon of those who say that
they are contesting, but that I am
fully prepared and ready to contest
as a person who is contesting to win
by the special grace of God.
Your party, APGA, is in crisis. Don’t
you see this as an impediment?
I know you are talking about the
disagreements in our party. This is
normal in any political organization
and it is an ingredient of
democratic process. In politics
there are bound to be litigations
and there could also be
controversies. Though APGA is a
minority party in Nigeria, it is
however the leading and majority
party in Anambra State.
Uche Ekwunife acknowledging
cheers from supporters
I am sure that you are aware of the
court matters about APGA
leadership and what the Enugu
Appeal Court said about the High
Court judgment against Sir Victor
Umeh. Going by that, Victor Umeh
is still recognized as the National
Chairman of APGA.
Issues at the high court
We still have issues at the High
Court, the Court of Appeal and
Supreme Court over the matter.
But at the moment Victor Umeh
remains the National Chairman of
All Progressives Grand Alliance and
that is where I belong, unless
something else happens legally.
Besides, the Appeal Court position
on the matter remains substantive
until it is reversed.
Don’t you see the fact that you are
from the same local government
area with the outgoing governor,
(Anaocha) as a challenge?
Anambra State is a unique state.
Our people are highly politically
aware and cannot be misled. What
the people of Anambra State want
is good governance irrespective of
where the person comes from. I
wish to make it known to you that
zoning is not the issue in Anambra
State. There has never been a time
Anambra State agreed on zoning or
a zoning formula. It is only when
Anambra people come together
through any manner and say this is
what we want and which of the
senatorial districts would start,
then we address that issue and it
takes off from there. Even those
who are saying that it is their turn
had contested with other zones in
the past.
There is this insinuation that you
have gone into a political marriage
with an oil magnet also contesting
for the governorship for the
purpose of being his running mate.
Is it true?
Nobody runs for the post of Deputy
Governor. I cannot be spending all
my time and resources, draining
energy, creating all the awareness
across the state in the name of
becoming a deputy governor. I wish
to reiterate that I have what it
takes to manage the affairs of
Anambra State creditably. Anybody
telling you that I am going to
become running mate to anybody or
deputy to anybody is not saying the
truth. I have heard it before and I
see those stories as rumor and it
does not hold water. I want to make
it clear that I am running to win and
I have the belief in God that I will
win the election.
You have moved from the PDP to
PPA and now to APGA. Some believe
that you would soon return to PDP.
Is it true?
I have no intention to join the PDP
at anytime. I am a member of APGA
and the party is dear to us and to
me in particular. When you look at
our party, APGA, you will discover
that the party has done well in our
state. This is through the
instrumentality of our governor, Mr.
Peter Obi. He has done so well and
that is to the credit of APGA as a
party. That is also the testimony
that we are using as APGA. So we in
APGA shall build on the foundation
that he has laid to better Anambra
State. So there is no point going to
the Peoples Democratic Party when
the APGA -led government has done
well.
Like I said before, the leadership
problem in APGA does not mean an
end to the party. We have a
National Chairman, Sir Victor Umeh
and he remains that. One cannot
because of the normal democratic
developments in his or her party,
join another party.
As a woman are you intimidated by
the presence of many men in the
contest?
I am contesting for the post of a
governor to render service to my
people. Any person can render
service to the people of Anambra
State and it doesn’t matter if the
person is a man or a woman. What
matters is service to the people. I
will like to adhere that being a
woman is not an impediment at all.
Come to think of it, we are not
going there to fight physically
where you would say we need men.
Again at my level and stage in
politics, I am above such fear of
intimidation by men. You should also
know that I have passed that stage
of intimidation in politics. I have
spent close to eight years in the
National Assembly and in the
National Assembly we have about
360 members who are men and
women of integrity. People
experienced from all walks of life
and we share ideas and rub minds on
issues about our people and you feel
that with such an experience any
law maker cannot make a good
governor? So it is not a man or
woman thing. It is all about service
to the people and it does not
matter if the person at the helm of
affairs is a man or a woman.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/07/anambra-2013-no-man-can-intimidate-me-ekwunife/

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In case you have forgotten the topic said she can't be Intimidated.