interview

Now that electoral litigations are over, It’s time to call all stakeholders to join President Tinubu in building the nation, Says Senator Ifeanyi Ararume

Published

1 year ago

November 14, 2023

Godwin Ararume is a Nigerian politician and business man who has been appointed by the country’s former minister of Petroleum Resources, as the Chairman, board of management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.), in the wake of implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). He is the Senator representing Imo North at the 9th Nigerian National Assembly. He was elected Senator for the Imo North (Okigwe) constituency of Imo State, Nigeria at the start of the Nigerian Fourth Republic, running on the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) platform. He took office on 29 May 1999.[1] He was re-elected in April 2003.[2] After taking his seat in the Senate[3] in June 1999, Ararume was appointed to committees on Communications, Police Affairs, Federal Character, Finance & Appropriation, Information and Niger Delta (vice chair).
Senator Ifeanyi Ararume is a businessman,politician represented Imo north senate between 1999-2003,2003-2007,serve the country in different capacity.In his interview with NewsThumb Publisher/Editor-In-Chief, SOTAYO OLAYINKA a couple of days back in his office, Abuja. He spoke on a numbers of issues concerning Nigeria and Way forward.

What are your constituency scorecard during your tenure?.

It’s been a long time now,we did quite a lot,the nature of a legislature is to make laws that can help business thrives,creating enable environment. EFCC,NDDC were created during our time. Laws that help shapen the nation with cooperation with executives. We are to appropriate laws were passed to move nation forward. Budgets passing,we also functions to clear executives nominees making sure round pegs were fix in round holes. Another function oversight functions of funds to be fully appropriate in agencies. We .ake laws as economic policies that enable African countries benefit from over 1billion population economically in Africa. China, India population benefits from economic policies that were made friendly. If Nigeria’s policies are friendly to ensure Other African nations benefits and grow economically. Recall we are the first set of lawmakers to galvanise legislative policies to change the narratives from the military eras decrees which later became an acts of Parliament. These bills not favourably from executives were adjusted to suit the economical growth, majority of us then were driven by patriotism and not materialism in order to build the nation.

Can you tell us why you join politics 1999?

It’s like when people go to school to get knowledge that contribute to progress of the nation. As a businessman,I brought my private sector ideas into legislature activities to impact governance. If you la k that experience in government,you cannot give what you don’t have. Government does not employ,but businesses does, thereby government need policies to make nisi esses thrives. Government rate if employment is limited in a nation, employment in areas of Teaching hospitals,Customs, Medical centres, etc. However,the real employment is carried out by private business sectors. When we came to Abuja,we have only two local gas Stations on this Airport road. It was Yaradua that open dual carriage ways and on and on and now those areas d v loos and businesses are opened to others indirectly to employ other people.

Government must do everything within it’s capacity to create enabling environment for businesses to thrive for nation to progress. Recall President Tinubu attended united nations general assembly to canvass for diasporas investment into the country,they promise to come make foreign direct investment. For instance,if investors are to come to Oyo or Ekiti state to invest in Cocoa,farmers would no longer face challenges of product rejections due to humidity and so forth,direct sales would be available for them. Chocolates, beverages are produced and economy would boom. Now that electoral litigations are over,it’s time to call all stakeholders to join Mr President to build the nation,where everyone be proud to be call citizens,it’s going to be everybody’s effort to achieve. Everyone might not join but we need majority,we have biggest economy in African continent. Nigerians all over the world are brilliantly successful anywhere they domiciled. I believe that this countryside will showcase it’s best under president Tinubu,he had done it in Lagos and can do it again. His successors had since built upon the landmark foundation laid by him as Former governor of the state, Lagos state has become everybody’s dream ,same will be repeated on a larger scale in the nation by president Tinubu at the centre. I think he has the capacity to do greater things and I therefore congratulate him for the victory at the supreme court. Other Governors from different party like Governor Diri Douye of PDP Bayelsa state has since congratulated him and others commending him for economic policies embarked upon sice assumption in office, I wish all of us well for having him as leader now.

What’s your advise for opposition parties?

I don’t think there should be opposition in Nation building,you see you can only have one president at a time and we have one now,it’s our responsibility to support him,no man is perfect,that’s why he has advisers, therefore as we move forward, I advise his advisers to counsel him well,also ensure proper dissemination of government policies especially to the grassroot and rural areas. They should permeate knooks and crannies of the nation to educate people on government activities. If any part of the country is under siege, it affects other areas too,things may go wrong on the course of nation building,we should learn to forgive one another.

I recall in early 80’s when I used to do business in Taiwan,Dubai Airport was like Benin Airport,but see what they had transform,what tourism has done for them now .

Our president Asiwaju has precedence of making things happen,I won’t be surprise when he steps out to meet people collaborate with him to move the nation forward.No nation that doesn’t make mistakes in the course of building it’s economy.but it must be fixed for any progress to be achieved. I wish him and Nigerians well, all we need to do now is to support him for Nigeria to witness unprecedented growth henceforth.

You talk so well of President Tinubu,but how well do you know him and believe in his capacity and sagacity to perform better,also witnessing minister Wike appointment as FCT minister,how do you advise him on Abuja project and citizens expectation of him?

I have known president Tinubu for almost 30 years now,

How do you have confidence in him?

One thing working for him is his tenacity,he doesn’t take no for an answer,you see in the course of man’s growth,it doesn’t matter how many times you fall,what matters is the capacity to get up and have your eyes on the ball. He’s a very focused person ,not giving-in to distractions,in politics and business,there are lots of distractions. I know him to be a result oriented person. It’s like when you have a combination lock,you check your bag maybe security people have tampered with it,you try to open it and its not opened,a focused person would leave the bag for a while but an impatient person will bring somebody to come and destroy the lock. But as a focused person,he would try it again and again until he eventually got it opened. That’s the spirit I know of Asiwaju,not giving up.
I was in the Senate in 2003, when his party lost many states in the southwest,yet he didn’t give up. When he has something to offer,he goes for it. He went on through the judiciary and recovered some, and by 2007,he got the states back. He’s very focused.
On Wike,he’s a lawyer, a younger brother who did quite a lot as governor in Rivers State,he improves landscape,secures, and opens up business opportunities in the state. One of problems we have in FCT is immediate past administration did not open up other areas,he need to open up new areas in terms of abandoned road projects,need to work on road inter-connectivity for workers that lived far away to work in FCT as it’s done other climes, in London people have alternative means of transportation,people travels kilometers to work without problems. As old as London is people still have council flats to buy or live in depending on the purchasing capacity. You can’t be homeless unless you choose to be.
I drove around and saw lots of abandoned projects that contractors have resumed work on. Wike needs to discuss with property owners to commercialize them and encourage business opportunities to thrive. Security challenges like in Kubwa,Gwagwalada,Gboyi etc. Three of my staff were attacked before Wike emerge FCT minister,it was El-Rufai that last open up areas decongest the city of FCT. Bala Muhammed also did some but he can improve upon them.

Let’s go back to your state in Imo,Election is coming by November,what’s your advise for governor, INEC ?

For governor Hope Uzodima, I believe he’s doing his best, however he should engage the stakeholders to fix the state because only him cannot do it.
I saw some videos of those boys,they are not faceless,they have homes. Traditional and Religious leaders be engaged to collectively resolve issues, employment opportunities be offer them ,not seeing anyone as not useful to contribute to progress of the state. He must create enabling environment for businesses to thrive in such a way that those businesses would absorb most of those guys causing security challenges in the State. As governor, he’s supposed to be governor to everybody and not to political party alone. It is expected that problems may arise,in the course of governance but he should devise a means to curb likely problems to leadership. Everybody has a role to play.
I advise INEC to organise free and fair election and people to embrace whosoever wins. If people votes counts they would respect the outcome but otherwise they would not honour the outcome. The Imo state indegenes too need to embrace peace for progress to be achieved.
There are some local government who have problems already, INEC should come out publicly to announce areas elections would not hold due to those noted challenges . INEC should not come to Kogi,Imo and Bayelsa state with one promise but go and do something else. It’s important election education is carry out steadily,people will hold you responsible for your actions. Timing of arrivals of election materials and voting be followed to forestall people returning home without been able to exercise their franchise. I urge people to come out to vote enmass. INEC should do what they meant and mean what they do.

In those days before you emerge a Senator,you must have a godfather,who is yours?

In 1998 I was a pioneer chairman of APP in my state,I don’t have any godfather. I had elders I respected who also saw me as a young man with a potential and supported me yet I never disappoint them. Our leaders,Chief Sam Mbakwe is one of those that inspired me ,he was one of those who build Imo state even from nothing. People used to call him crying governor,in that cry,he got Airport,Independent power plant, in Izombe,Obim which was part of Imo state before. He got Concord hotel,33 KVA line to the state. He did quite a lotI. I respected him. Elders like Nzeribe,Ugbuagu also supported me,Iwuayanwu still alive shows me love and supported me. I sought their advise when needed.

I believe politics has taught you many things,what is it you can relay ?

Politics has taught me a lot,in politics you might not get what you set out to get at a time,sometimes it doesn’t work due to betrayals,structures,blackmails or jealousy but everything you experience must teach you a lesson. It doesn’t matter how many times you fall before,like Asiwaju’s sagacity. I have seen quite a lot in life,but I usually count them as experience of life and move on.

How do you rate Nigerian politics,progressing ?

Certainly,it’s growing, we are not static,recall we are not where we were in 1999. in terms of development,there is progress. In 1999,am sure Lagos state didn’t have more than four 5-star hotels but today,we can boast of numerous 5-star hotels as of today, dualisation of Lekki Epe road ,Blue-Rail lines were not there,go to Owerri,Portharcourt,those bridges constructed were not there,so there is progress. No matter how you progresses,there is always room to improve,that’s what we need now.

You are talking about big politicians in Imo state and Nigeria in general,who is your mentor among them?

Actually,I was successful as a businessman,I went into some areas of business exclusively for the Asians,I won’t say any in particular but while growing as a young man some of those who I spires me ,like I mentioned earlier,Chief Sam Mbakwe, Iwuayanwu and Nzeribe, outside my state,people who liked and supported me,Chief Anennih also supported me. I know Abdulsalam,though before he became head of state. He came on an official visit to Benin,was impressed with one of my outfits,left his guards for me to make contact with him, and that’s how our relationship started. Chief Tom Ikimi,when I was in NRC,also encouraged me as a young man to the extent that Femi’s father who was Otedola before he became Lagos governor was a member of the committee I chaired,a lot of people who work with me then show interest in my growth. They cut across every regions of Nigeria,always draws me close to themselves.

How do you advise people out there that wish to emulate you as businessman and politician?

Nothing comes easy,don’t give up ,work very hard,even when you are not encouraged ,when others discourage you,keep your head up. Be forward looking,always believe in God in your endeavours,am a Catholic,a Knight in Saint John catholic church. I don’t joke with my Rosery, believe in God,even when it looks as if there is darkness,I go on my knees to pray and things change. If you look at Mr President, he’s a Muslim but have no boundaries,the wife, first-lady is a Pastor,imagine that combination,God see heart of everyone, whatever you do,believe in God.

As a very busy man,how do you relax and enjoy yourself?

Enjoyment is relative,I work to get results,I find time to read and recreate. I read a lot as hobby,it’s my reading that makes me go back to do my PhD. I engage in sporting activities,also love to play with my grandchildren anytime they are around and then of course I have very good old friends We have been together,those at Abuja,at least we meet twice weekly. I also try to help people in need, and am always happy to see people get out of trouble through my efforts. That really gives me joy.

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interview

My vision is to engage Nigerian youths in sports to promote national pride on the global stage and grassroots developments without political infiltrations, says Senator Obinna Ogba

Published

4 months ago

November 25, 2024

NewsThumb Magz

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On moving Nigerian sports forward in Nigeria highlight a task that is long overdue. For any renewal move to be achieved, drastic steps and deliberate actions need to be upheld. A former senator representing Ebonyi Central Senatorial District in the 8th and 9th Assemblies, Senator Obinna Joseph Ogba, who is also a sports administrator, hails from Amanvu-
Nkalagu Community in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. Senator Obinna bares his mind on ways Nigerian sports can take its place in the community of sports nations.Excerpt:

We heard of your move from PDP to APC. What informed your decision and belief in this government?

A political party is like a vehicle that can convey you to a destination, and when you get there, it becomes about Nigeria. I never liked APC as a party before, but Senator Oluremi Tinubu talked me through it while we were at the Senate together. She was then the chairman of my committee. It was then I began to yield to APC agendas.
The party I belonged to also disenfranchised me from the Ebonyi State governorship ticket. Myself and others, like my mentor in Ebonyi State, Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim, decided to support APC before the election. It’s therefore wrong for people to assume I just joined APC after the 2023 election. So far, so good. We have been doing well and making efforts to contribute our own quotas, hoping that one day our names can come out at the national level.

Can you mention some of your scorecards during your terms in the 8th and 9th Assemblies?

I don’t like blowing my own trumpet but prefer people to talk about my achievements. However, let me mention them. No senator from Ebonyi State has done what I did since the state’s creation in 1996. I built a stadium while I was the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Youths and Sports for eight years. I assisted in facilitating over 480 Ebonyians into the federal civil service, and all of them are growing in the system. It gives me joy to see those Ebonyians. We attracted developments like road constructions and bridges. I included my community projects in the Nigerian budget, which was unprecedented in the history of Ebonyi State. That is why, on the floor of the Senate, I thank those who introduced constituency projects because, without such initiatives, people like us might not get anything as community gains from the federal government. A cassava processing plant is also part of what my representation brought to my community to date. My first senatorial bill was on the University of Sports, the first in West Africa, which has today been signed into law. Again, to show you that President Tinubu is doing well in recognizing the importance of youths, he has approved the university, which would soon be commissioned, and a vice-chancellor will be appointed. The National Sports Commission has been an illegal entity, and if the President didn’t like it, it could be scrapped. But I had to push a bill for the National Sports Commission, which former President Buhari assented to. That was my bill. Presently, Mr. President has also started implementing the law. Very soon, he will appoint a Director General to run the day-to-day operations of the Commission. When you look at the Commission for Physically Challenged Bill too, I was a partner to it. The National Lottery Bill was also my bill, though former President Buhari refused to assent to it, but the National Assembly vetoed it. That is one of the two bills in Nigeria that has been vetoed. The NDDC Bill during Obasanjo’s era was refused, and this National Lottery Bill was also refused by Buhari, and both were vetoed by the Assembly. I have a lot to tell. The South-East Development Commission (SEDC) Bill was also initiated by me. Now that President Tinubu has consented, myself, Senator Stella Odua, and Anyanwu were the first to sponsor the bill. Buhari assented to the North-East Development Commission (NEDC) but refused the SEDC Bill then. Thank God the present Deputy Speaker has now represented and sponsored the bill, which was assented to by Mr. President. The South-East would forever be grateful for that.

If Mr. President offers you the position of Director General of the Sports Commission today, what would you do differently?

Well, since I know everything about the bill, I have been in sports management all my life. I was a Commissioner for Youths and Sports in Ebonyi State, Senior Assistant to the former Ebonyi State Governor on Youths and Sports, First-Vice President of the Nigerian Football Association (NFA), a retired referee, coach, and former member of the Confederation of African Football (CAF). My credentials in sports speak for me to develop Nigerian youths and sports, to uplift Mr. President’s government in the areas of youths and the Renewed Hope Agendas because you need a system that can relate the agendas to the grassroots. One sure way is through sports. I mean wholesome sports. Be mindful that football is not the only sport we can push to the forefront; there are many other arms of sports too. The era of Nigerians going for international sports competitions without bringing home medals would be a thing of the past. We would ensure sports activities are developed without political infiltrations. I will use my experience to convince Mr. President of the need to develop sports to make his Renewed Hope Agendas proud.

I will develop athletes’ training policies to get them adequately prepared for any competition whatsoever. Releasing money within two to three weeks before a competition would not yield any results; such funds would be a waste. The Olympics is a four-year interval event, and we would no longer wait for athletes to roam the streets without adequate care.

I am aware Mr. President has released ₦12 billion to the Sports Commission, and such funds can be used to care for these talented athletes and not just be spent on a fire-brigade approach for winning Olympic medals with only weeks of preparation—it would never happen. Such funds need to be put to use between now and the next Olympics, while releasing a few billion naira around the tournament period would suffice to achieve commendable results.

My governor just established a football club and appointed me as the chairman of the club. As I am here, I think and talk sports. If given the opportunity, I will do well. In fact, in talking about sports in Nigeria, there is no way my name would not be mentioned. I have a lot to offer. Even most sports ministers usually consult us when they are appointed. You know, after your advice, when money comes, they won’t call you again or even follow the advice offered, and that’s why they always fail.

When people without a track record in sports are appointed, someone like the man from Plateau State who had no knowledge about sports and didn’t belong to the sports community, he was unable to do anything. When you don’t belong to the sports community, you find it difficult to do well and may become frustrated.

In sports, we can also partner with private organizations to raise funds to support sports, making accountable use of the resources garnered to support Mr. President’s Renewed Hope Agendas. I believe in the power of sports as a uniting force for the country.

If given the privilege, I can also establish a National Sports Fund for sustainable funding because most sports funds come from the government alone, and it shouldn’t be so. I will also facilitate sports commission workforce welfare, including coaches and staff. These are the administrators, and adequate training is expected to be given to them for efficiency.

My vision is to engage Nigerian youths to promote national pride on the global stage. I am confident that with the right approach, Nigerian sports can be taken to international levels sustainably.

What do you admire most, and what are your suggestions to Mr. President for almost two years of his administration?

It was his effort to give national honors to athletes who could not win the CAF tournaments but became second with silver medals. No President has ever done that. The President and General Secretary of the NFA were also given national honors. In 1980, when Nigeria first won gold, they were not given national honors. Up to 10 times now, it’s happening for the first time.

Though people say things are very hard and go demonstrating, as an Igbo man, we don’t believe in that. We support President Tinubu’s government. By the time he finishes his second term in office, everything will be normalized.

Why do you think South-Eastern States supported Mr. President?

Our people don’t lie; we focus on what we believe in. Imo and Ebonyi States are APC states. We also believe that by 2027, APC will capture more. Mr. President has been doing well. See the Southeast Development Commission (SEDC) he assented to and approved. Mr. President’s wife visiting our state and we are there to warmly welcome her. We don’t hide our support for him.

How do you think Nigeria can perform well in international competition?

Simply by early preparation. Participants must be fully engaged and exposed to international friendlies to sharpen their talents. We should also learn how to play boardroom politics—that is, not allowing all these Francophone country referees to officiate in our matches against other Francophone nations due to biased officiating. Neutral officials, perhaps from Northern Africa, would be better suited for such games.

If I am appointed Director General, I will make sure Mr. President hosts an African tournament, which would also sell the nation to the world. After Obasanjo, it’s only former President Yar’Adua that hosted an African game. We have something upstairs to offer and make his 2027 election easier for him to win.

What do you think affected our sporting facilities in Nigeria?

Lack of maintenance. We lack a maintenance culture. All our facilities become old. I don’t see any reason why the National Stadium in Lagos should not be working. How much do we think the stadium would cost to maintain that we cannot afford? That stadium, in question, can also yield revenue to cover maintenance costs.

Nigeria has only one FIFA-approved stadium, which is in Akwa Ibom State because the state keeps maintaining it. The National Stadium in Abuja can be maintained too. If appointed, I can reach out to Julius Berger to maintain the stadium to secure a contract from us.

There is also another way we can manage it through private partnerships. Even UBA, as a bank, can be contracted to maintain the stadium for 20 years and earn revenue from it. Dangote, too, can handle it. Look at Murtala Muhammed Airport (MM2) in Lagos—it’s been under private management and functions profitably to this day.

Again, the National Lottery needs to go into sports. In fact, the National Lottery is not paying enough to the federal government as it ought to. We have to ensure they pay all that is due to them.

In addition, our national leagues should be opened for support from government and private organizations. They should not rely only on clubs to survive.

In all, there is no government that has done what Mr. President has done in Nigeria. Security issues have gone down. The proposed tax reforms, too, are a fantastic economic policy to take Nigeria to the next level.
In moving Nigerian sports forward in Nigeria highlight a task that is long overdue. For any renewal move to be achieved, drastic steps and deliberate actions need to be upheld. A former senator representing Ebonyi Central Senatorial District in the 8th and 9th Assemblies, Senator Obinna Joseph Ogba, who is also a sports administrator, hails from Amanvu-
Nkalagu Community in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. Senator Obinna bares his mind on ways Nigerian sports can take its place in the community of sports nations.

Excerpt: