Interview


Former Anambra State Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Tourism and Coordinator, All Progressives Congress Campaign Council in the state, Mr. Chima Okafor‎, told journalists in an interactive session that political leaders in the South-east have a lot to learn from former Lagos State Governor, Senator Bola Tinubu. Shola Oyeyipo brings the excerpts:

Why did you leave Governor Peter Obi's cabinet?
I left on the grounds of principle. I saw that the direction wasn’t the direction to serve the people and if there is anything, the trend of event has justified why I left. I had to leave because I cannot work under such a situation.

No amount of monetary inducement can justify why I had to leave my young family to come down to work. If I had projects I was doing that relate with the people; if I brought my children down, I’d be able to justify why I left when I was not with them and they will know their dad is a responsible person. So, I saw a different approach and I cannot in all fairness go along with my conscience. That was why I said I resigned on principle and at the appropriate time, I will go into details. It is not easy but you can see the trend of events.

When you have principle, it is better you die on principle so that it would be said this man died on principle. If it is earning salary and all that, I will still be in Anambra perhaps but it is not that easy. Principle comes at a price. At a stage, my life was in danger. I was threatened and I made a report to my governor; he ignored it. A situation where my life was threatened over certain principle stands on issues, I decided I had to leave because it was no longer a project worth sacrificing your life for.

How realisable is the Igbo presidency in the foreseeable future?
Our permutation and projection is this, the election has exposed the underbellies of Igbo leadership and the cause for re-thinking. Where hustlers parade themselves as Igbo leaders is a tragedy for us. So, we are trying to start a new thing so that our people will see beyond porridges and have principle stand and I give you one instance. Mr. Peter Obi was in a position – I can authoritatively say that, to do the same thing Senator Bola Tinubu did in the South-west. That is the difference between vision and porridge.


When you see leadership, it comes with sacrifice and you must be focused on it. These things Asiwaju is doing, they were not a one-day thing but people have seen what he has done now. Everybody is toasting him now, even those who never believed in his principle and never cherished what he was doing. We had the opportunity to do the same thing in the South-east – that was part of why I left. When you control the five block states, it becomes a block and you’ll be able to negotiate with other power blocks. That is how it is done!

In any event, GMB came to our people how many times? They disappointed him. Yes they did, except Chuba of blessed memory, who stood by him. Emezioke ended up trading his son for position. He reached out to our people but they never appreciated him. Now, my people have been calling me, but what are they calling for? To see how they can come in, collect and move on.

That is not life! What we need is a total change. It will get worse before our people realise and we believe we are on the ground now. They have seen the folly of their actions. Even in investment. You are always told to disperse your assets so that you edge. Even our son, Dr. Alex Ekwueme who was founder of G-6, to G-12, to G-18 and to G-34 - where is he today in the scheme of things?

Is it not enough for someone who has conscience to say ‘please, enough is enough? Don’t treat us this way. We need to organise together to get the power block for Igbo presidency, but it requires hard work – coming together first and foremost so that you can speak with one voice and have credible leaders.

We are already in the process of that. The election that threw up GMB, has already started a revolution in Igbo land because it’s either they go to sleep or we force them to see so that we can follow the appropriate channel and key into the project.
Part of what we told our people, when we were selling the APC was that the party is a national party and it has shown in the election by spread. Per chance, if GMB runs eight years by rotation power comes down to South. And if you have a power block, the natural thing will be that South-west and South-south have had shots, so you tradeoff with the two other power structures to say, ‘please can we have a shot too? That is how it is done. It is concession! Nobody freely gives you, but you must have shown strength so that the other will be able to listen to you. But when we are not organised and speak with one voice, who would you speak with and who do you form alliances with?

We want to rest those who are parading themselves as leaders because they have been exposed. Even when the president of the United States, for the first time in history, addressed Nigerians directly, it didn’t strike them that some fundamentals are going on because they don’t read. They don’t even understand. Eight opposition leaders have taken over in Africa.
So, you must show strength of character and that is what the APC has done in terms of General Buhari. His lieutenant, Tinubu, what money can you give to him? What joy can he not drive from what he has done for his people?

What should Nigerians expect from the incoming administration as from May 29?
You have started seeing the changes. Even without being sworn in, his election has been able to restore confidence in the economy and you can see that foreign investors have started coming in. It is three things. He would do them: security, economy and corruption.
United States of America stopped buying our oil. It is not that they stopped importing from other countries, rather, what they were importing from us; they distributed Kuwait, Berrain, Saudi Arabia, Canada and Mexico. They stopped buying one barrel from us. Why? Because they know the money ends up in private pockets. So when you say there is no tsunami in Nigeria you are joking because the greatest tsunami is corruption – a situation where someone appropriates something his tenth generation does not even need.

With GMB and his vice-president, Prof. Osinbajo, you will see dramatic change. The manifesto will be followed and would be implemented. There is no question about that, so you will see changes in terms of infrastructure development, power generation and all that. Give him one year or thereabout, you will see. The problem has been with leadership. Once a leader takes a stand and gives direction, everybody follows suit.
So, even the change we are talking about is now on every person’s mind. It is not to do with APC again; the change now is between you and me.

Is your party not afraid of the burden of expectations?
It is not an easy task. He is on a rescue mission, so the expectation is very high, but we pray God will give him the strength and the enablement to meet our aspiration.

Do you think all these are achievable in view of the fears that the Hausa/Fulani could hijack power and fence off Buhari from the rest of the country?
I will not descend to this. Whoever knows the General knows that he has a mind of his own. The country has gone beyond myopic or ethnic infrastructure. That is global world for you. You can discuss with someone in Sokoto through phones, internet and all that. So, if you are not transparent others will pick it. So, those primordial fears, I don’t see them. If you are relating with him one-on-one, you will know who he is.

He knows very collectively everybody worked for him and the love that has been shown to him in this country, it is going to be very difficult for a section or a group to lay claim to the presidency. If there is any group that one would say could lay emphasis on the presidency, it is the South-west – Tinubu, but we believe the process that threw up Buhari, was sanctioned by God. It couldn’t have been possible without God’s doing. Could you have imagined what would have happened if the South-west traded off their support? We have to be realistic. Just like I’m saying, the South-east, people could say we didn’t vote but we worked. I was telling them in the meeting.

If you have an opportunity to serve in General Buhari’s cabinet, would you go for it?
I would be delighted to offer my services. I opted out because I believe the objective of why I came to serve was no longer being met. It is not drawing salaries or being taken care of. Once I come into something I have objective and when those objectives are longer feasible and those things are not working according to programme – that is all. So, if I’m found suitable in any position, I will contribute positively and that is the way it should be because the key thing is that he needs capable hands to drive the process to deliver democracy dividends.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/okafor-igbos-must-learn-from-tinubu/209293/

una dey hear

To become a traitor

I don't think so

kodded:


To become a traitor
I don't think so

You can say that again!

Can one learn morals from a drug baron and thief? I don't think so. These SE APC chiefs should keep their insanity to themselves, we are not buying!

Most people that would comment after me won't read between the lines...

On how to steal and remain a saint to be worshiped

Ibos are Already coward and treator they need not to learn from tinubu

Nkogheri 101.

too lengthy and useless. Whoever rules shud nt divide us if d ruler is fair,square and gud. He must rule way wether ibo or hausa

Well we can learn from everybody

PointB:


You can say that again!

Can one learn morals from a drug baron and thief? I don't think so. These SE APC chiefs should keep their insanity to themselves, we are not buying!

deceive una sef well well

"But when we are not organised and speak with one voice, who would you speak with and who do you form alliances with?"

What is this guy taking about? Is he suggesting that Ohaneze isn't a go-to body to talk to? Truly, in the hypothetical event that Buhari wants to reach out to Ndigbo again, who does he talk to? Okorocha? Ngige? Ohaneze? APGA or PDP? ??

The ideology and mentality of an Igboman and that of the Zulus of Western Nigeria are like day and night.

Like Achebe wrote in TWAC "unlike the yoloba(Zulu) Igbos are not hampered by traditional hierarchy and unlike the Hausas Igbos are not hindered by wary religion"
Tinubu is a king in yolobaland and nobody dare rise above him and he has army of dependent thugs and gansters who rely so much on handouts from government to do his biddings.
We knew what transpired between Awolowo and Akintola, Awolowo and Abiola, Awolowo was envious of the sudden rise of those men and their popularity outside yolobaland was discomforting him daily.

No yolobaman will dare dream to rise above Tinubu or he will face North Korea style execution, Funsho Williams as a case study.

To an Igboman elastic sometimes has no limit and its possible to those that believe.

We are different people, we cant mix except in Super Eagle, our dreams are parrallel so are our aspirations and approach to issues.

question is WILL PRIDE ALLOW THEM TO LEARN

Learn what? Serfdom to the North? Tufia!
It is a known that every time a child is born in the SW a serf is gained in the North.
It’s a generational obligation to their masters.

Where hustlers parade themselves as Igbo leaders is a tragedy for us. So, we are trying to start a new thing so that our people will see beyond porridges and have principle stand and I give you one instance. Mr. Peter Obi was in a position – I can authoritatively say that, to do the same thing Senator Bola Tinubu did in the South-west. That is the difference between vision and porridge.
food for thought

AhmedMustapha:
Well we can learn from everybody

Who are you and what is your original moniker? You are one very balanced and matured poster on this forum. I have observed the comments you make on different threads and they are usually intelligent, without bitterness, bigotry and hate.

Keep it up!

They should the good things from him not corruption and ruling states via proxy and god son

kodded:





To become a traitor


I don't think so

Who did he betray Some people just say anything here even when they can't back it up. With Tinubu you always know where you stand

Learn what exactly? How to ferry cocain from one side of the US to the other or how to turn a state into a private fiefdom? Pablo Tinubu shouldn't be put up as a vintage stratetigist that should be emulated. This is a runaway rogue. . Moreover cobbling up a crude ethnic alliance against a simple minded president is not rocket science

Golden truthful words, that ought to be taught in all primary and secondary schools in the land of red mud.

kodded:





To become a traitor


I don't think so

Why call him traitor.
Tinubu was never in your camp, he stood by APC

Peter Obi is the traitor who betrayed APGA .

owobokiri:
Learn what exactly? How to ferry cocain from one side of the US to the other or how to turn a state into a private fiefdom? Pablo Tinubu shouldn't be put up as a vintage stratetigist that should be emulated. This is a runaway rogue. . Moreover cobbling up a crude ethnic alliance against a simple minded president is not rocket science

Sometimes, you remind me of Pro01.

emmatok:


Why call him traitor.
Tinubu was never in your camp, he stood by APC

Peter Obi is the traitor who betrayed APGA .

he betrayed us to bring in a fulani herdsman


Something that might start a war if the south was to be the north

lolababe331e:


Who did he betray Some people just say anything here even when they can't back it up. With Tinubu you always know where you stand

tinibu and all yolobas are traitors

kodded:
he betrayed us to bring in a fulani herdsman


Something that might start a war if the south was to be the north

Are the northern people not Nigerians?

The same divisiveness that made GEJ lost.

emmatok:


Are the northern people not Nigerians?

The same divisiveness that made GEJ lost.

please tell me if NE or NW gang up with the south to vote in jonathan ...... And eventually jonathan won the election.........do you think nigeria will be the nigeria of present ?

kodded:
tinibu and all yolobas are traitors

Painment

Because we decide to say
No to corruption

Islie:



Painment

Because we decide to say
No to corruption

corruption how ?.....are the northerners saint ?

Trash. Tinubu wanted to be in the corridors of Aso Rock. He teamed up with Buhari to defeat GEJ and his gamble worked. He learned from his 2011 mistake. It isn't deeper than that. He didn't do it for Nigeria's sake. He'll be richer for this if he and Buhari don't fall out. If anything, Igbos are loyal...maybe to a fault because GEJ is bad. But let's stop the overclapping.

You know why all ibo are coward and treator 1 )ironsi went to hide at fajuyi house 2)ojuku ran and abandon his people when war was tougth 3)now&b/4 biafra wanted to stole nigeria and lagos thiefs canibalisim

LOL

Learn from an abokki slave? What next? Zoo people.