‘How PDP denied Igbo Senate Presidency, Speaker’

ROM JEFF AMECHI AGBODO, ABAKALIKI  

Dr. Steve Egbo is the running mate to Ebonyi State All Pro­gressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate, Senator Julius Ucha. He is a lecturer at the Abia State University, Uturu. Egbo was an aspirant for the gover­norship primaries of APC following which he lost and was picked as a running mate due to his commitment to the party. In this interview, the don said that the party would sweep the remaining elections in the state and beyond. He said that the emergence of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari as president-elect was a divine libera­tion from the antics of PDP for the past 16 years of bondage.

Excerpts:

What would you say about the defeat of the PDP

At a point in time, after uninterrupted con­trol of power at the centre, the PDP became over bloated, the PDP became arrogant, became pompous. In fact, the PDP at a time was ready to challenge God. They had no respect, no regard for anybody. Such things were not supposed to obtain in the society at this age. The PDP was the architect of its own downfall. PDP lost focus and every form of integrity. So, I really don’t wish to sing ‘Nunc Dimitis’ for the PDP. They saw it coming but it was too late. In life, certain situations when they occur are not reversible. When a bullet leaves the barrel of the gun, you cannot recall it. It has become a self-propelled magnet and it must find a spot to rest.

The collapse of PDP was like a bullet that has left the barrel of the gun and no magic, no miracle or voodoo could have stopped it from self destructing. Let me hope that the election of March 28 will be a lesson not only for the remnants of the PDP but for other ruling parties across Africa. I also want to say that the APC must also have something to learn from what happened to the PDP so that it does not fall into the same trap of delusional invincibility.

I know that sooner or later, some of these hawks in the PDP would like to come here and do to the APC what they have done to the PDP. Indeed, if the information available to us so far is correct, their applications are already piling up. So, those of us who laboured to create the APC must be careful to know that we have a contract with the Nigerian people and that contract must at all times be kept with care, tenderness and attention to details. APC has a job to do and every hand must be on deck to accomplish that job.

Some PDP members who purportedly won the National Assembly elections are trying to join the APC for the fear of losing their elections at the tribunals. What are your comments?

As far as I am concerned, there was no election in Ebonyi State on March 28 and our investigations revealed that it was a similar scenario across the entire South East and South-South. I stand boldly to say that what happened in the state and across the entire former Eastern region was a grand plan, a well articulated plot to scuttle democracy in the South East and South-South zones of the country, in order to create a situation that gives massive victory to the PDP. What we had was allocation of votes. There was no way Muhammadu Buhari could not have attained 25 per cent in most of the South East and South-South states, especially in Ebonyi, Enugu, Abia, Anambra, Rivers, Delta, Edo, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states. It was an absurdity for anybody to imagine that Buhari could not gain 25 percent in these states. In fact, the case of Imo state is an embarrassment to everybody. A state that is controlled by a very capable APC governor cannot give APC 25 per cent.

The so-called PDP winners should be jittery because the victory they had was stolen. Some of them are not even receiving congratulatory messages because they are afraid of what will happen the day after. APC has a strong foundation and believes in legitimacy and the rule of law. I wouldn’t want to preempt anything but I believe that the courts would be busy in the next few months and would determine who won and who lost. Can you imagine a situation where the APC cannot have a National Assembly member in Ebonyi and some other parts of Igbo land? It is a situation that does not portend well for Igbos because our so called Igbo leaders have taken us to the depth of the abyss. I believe that the March 28 election was not a reflection of the wishes of the Igbo people. Rather, it was that of those who felt they can mortgage us to achieve their personal interests of greed and avarice. They sold us and have pocketed millions of naira and dollars. But as I said earlier, there is always the day after and as we walk steadily towards that day, many people would have a lot of questions to answer.

What was the role of the military in the last elections?

Let me say this, in the nation’s history from 1964 after Nigerian first independence elections, the military has always operated as the terrorist wing of the party in power. I want to underline this. It happened in 1964 when the military institution was unscrupulously deployed to do the dirty work of the ruling NPC. In 1983, it was the same show of shame replicated. It has been so since 1999. I believe that with the recent exposure of the military underbelly, there is bound to be a change. When you talk about fear being expressed on the elections of April.11, let me tell you the scenario. What we saw on March 28 will not repeat itself because some people are already looking behind their backs. Already asking; can I do this again? Can I get away with the ones I have done? Is it still the same old story? Can it still be business as usual? The role of the military in the March 28 elections was more orchestrated in the South East and South-South parts of the country and maybe reasonably Ekiti State. But I am happy that despite all they have at their disposal, they were not able to defeat the will of the Nigerian people.

I salute the Nigerian people for the courage they have shown. The election of March 28 was Nigeria’s revolution. It was a very quiet revolution. Their ballots have created a new nation. I make bold to say that March 28 is Nigeria’s Independence Day. If you ask me, I will say lets relocate from October 1st to March 28; it was the day Nigeria for the first time in 55 years, gained its independence and freedom. The PDP placed on the head of every Nigerian, a crown of thorns and went a step further to crucify us all on the cross of red-hot iron. We can now say no more crowns of thorns and no more crucifixion. I am happy for the country and every citizen that made sacrifices to get us to this beautiful Easter period.

Where does Igbos stand? Now they cannot even produce either the Senate President or House of Representatives Speaker. Is there any remedy?

The position of the Igbos does not look good. The APC is a party of people who look at things the way they are supposed to be seen. Let me also say that the issue of what happened on March 28 would be thoroughly investigated and also the people who sold our birthrights to enlarge their coffers would be exposed. But the Igbo cannot and must not suffer for the sins of a few PDP elites who have parasite on the body and soul of the Igbo people for the past 16 years.

The Igbo love Buhari and had turned out en masse to vote for him but they were viciously and brutally and criminally prevented from doing so. The APC under Buhari is a new creation. We would wish the incoming leadership to understand that the Igbos are not against Buhari but have accepted him because he is a phenomenon. In the life of every nation, there comes a time when darkness engulfs the land and the future looks bleak and precipitous. At such a time, God often sends a Moses.

To the United States, he sent Abraham Lincoln, to Britain he sent Winston Churchill. To France, he sent Charles De Gualle. To India, he sent Mahatma Ghandi, he sent Mao Tse Tung to the Chinese. In more recent times, he sent to South Africa, Nelson Mandela. To Brazil, he sent Lula De Silva and today, he sent Muhammadu Buhari to deliver Nigeria. It is indeed a new day. This man came at a critical juncture to rescue the nation. I have toured the length and breadth of Igbo land to talk to people and seek their views and I saw that a very large number of Igbo people feel that Buhari is the man to lead Nigeria.

The grand plot to deprive Buhari the vote of the Ibo people is not the making of the ordinary Igbo people but the rapacious PDP elites who want to continue to suck our blood. This senseless betrayal is a proof to the failure of the PDP Igbo elite and this failure would remain a testament against them till all eternity. So, let no Nigerian point fingers at Igbos, as we are solidly behind Buhari and would continue to show it in our actions, thoughts and general dispositions. We would continue to show this until the Igbos are truly integrated in the Nigerian polity. In an interview I granted earlier, I said something very important and that is that the Igbos must be careful not to be buried with the PDP, not to sink with Jonathan.

Now that we have gotten a new leadership, do you see Buhari as a man who can deliver?

I mentioned some great men a few moments ago from South Africa, United States, India, etc who have been sent by God to deliver their people. I also mentioned Winston Churchill who during his burial was described as “The saviour of Britain.”

I am not trying to write history here but someday, it will be written and when that is done, I have no doubt that Buhari would be described as “The saviour of Nigeria”. He is not going to disappoint us. In one of my books published in 2003, I stated that Buhari is the only Nigerian living that will deliver the country. It was a prophetic statement I made 12 years ago and I am happy that Buhari has emerged as the nation’s leader. I believe I will be vindicated and that in the next few months and years, the manifestation of what I said in 2003 will be seen. In fact, people have been calling me to ask me, those that have seen that book; how I knew that this would happen and I told them that we make projections based on enlightened conjectures which often come to pass. It is not going to be an easy work for Buhari because a lot of things have gone wrong. There is so much filth and decay in the House but with his determination and doggedness and that of every other Nigerian, we are going to rescue the country. My joy is that Nigeria has been snatched away from the clutches of the predatory PDP and there is going to be a new beginning.

With all these things now, what is the prospect of your party for the April 11 elections?

We are very hopeful that APC would carry the day on April 11. I am not trying to be over confident but I know that we have presented a very worthy package for the Ebonyi people and I am sure they would respond positively. My principal, Sen. Julius Ucha is very competent, highly efficient, experienced and a man of great moral principles.