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"Imo State is an Investment-friendly area" Deputy Governor Udeagu tells USAfricaonline.com
The Deputy Governor of Imo State, Nigeria, Chief Ebere
Udeagu came to Texas to honor an invitation 
extended
to him by The Okigwe Progressive Union for its 2002 Fundraising
luncheon held in Dallas recently. He will be received in Houston on
Sunday September 22, 2002. A few days ago, USAfricaonline and The
USAfrica the Newspaper Dallas Correspondent PHILIP ODOEMENA had an
opportunity to interview him, exclusively.
USAfricaonline.com: In recent times, some governors in the South East have severed relationship with their deputies. In the light of that, how is your relationship with Governor Udenwa?
Udeagu: Our relationship is very positive, in fact very cordial. The relationship is based on maturity of two minds. We work together wonderfully. We have a job to do for Imo State citizens, there is no time to neglect our responsibilities and engage in unnecessary confrontations.
Do you have the courage to confront the governor when his actions or policy matters are not the best for Imo State?
Why not if not. You have to understand that I am Governor Udenwaís number one adviser. If I observe that any of his policies are not good for Imo State, I will not hesitate to point it out to him and we will work it out for the best interest of the State.
Has there been a situation where both of you have disagreed on policy matters and if so what position have you taking?
There could have been. I can't recall of any at this moment. Is like husband and wife, they sometimes disagree. But the most important thing is to maturely work things out for the benefit of the citizens. We have been doing that in the last three years. My position has always been to advise the governor on what is best for Imo State.
What is the outlook of the economic and infrastructural development in Imo State?
We are calling on investors to invest in Imo State because it's an investment friendly area. Governor Udenwa has been selling Imo State as the best State to invest and locate industries. The State is also the safest in the South East. We have removed most obstacles hindering investments. We are making sure that investors understand that labor is cheap and we have abundant human resources. Recently, a company opened an assembly plant for power generators in Imo State.
An overwhelming majority of Igbo people and their political activists want an Igbo man to become Nigeria's next president in 2003. What's your position?
I support Igbo man to be president of Nigeria in 2003. The problem though is that no aspiring candidate so far has told anybody how he or she is going to do that next year. What plans has the person in order to unseat the present administration of retired Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo. Right now PDP is the majority party in the country. What plans has any Igbo presidential aspirant got to use to defeat the majority party. I would like to see that person's strategy; then we move from there.
What about teacher's salaries in Igbo State. Are they receiving their salaries?
Why not say civil servants rather than teachers only. We paid some months in arrears. We are paying but not paid when due. The problem we have is that federal allocation is on the decline. The State subsidizes secondary school education management board with twenty million Naira every month. Our state is a civil service state; there are few industries, and we have a lot of civil servants in our pay role.
What are your political plans for 2003?
Governor Udenwa is going for the second tenure. The people will evaluate what he has done for the State and make their decisions. If he is re-elected and he chooses to retain me as his deputy, I will continue to support him and continue to serve Imo State.
Do you have a contingent plan in case your party looses the election?
I am a politician. I don't think about whether or not we are going to be reelected. We will wait until election is conducted. Going along with the governor as his running mate is not automatic. If for any reason he did not choose me, I will think about other plans.
Do you consider yourself a constitutional Deputy Governor or a liberal Deputy Governor?
If by constitutional you mean doing everything by the book; I would say I have to respect the constitution as I serve the people of Imo State. By liberal, if you mean doing extra to help the people: well I have the mixture of both. In 1999 a unanimous decision was made by Okigwe constituency to elect me. In fact, I had no opponent. I have an obligation to serve my people. I will not disappoint them.
On the issue of Corruption in public places, what is your administration doing to minimize it?
There is some sort of corruption in many human environments. That been said, for those who don't know, it is not easy to misuse public funds. Anybody seeking second tenure must be very careful. Governor Udenwa is an Accountant as well as an excellent Auditor. He is very restrictive in his budgetary spending and he is on top of Imo State financial transactions.
Since your public life, including your current position, have ever participated in any form of corruption?
As an individual I have not participated in corruptive practices. As a public servant I have not participated either. I grew up a civil servant. I am still in public service. I have always been clean in office.
Are you saying that you have not in any way misused public funds?
No!.
Thank you, Sir.
Thank you for the interview. I hope I have answered your questions.
This exclusive interview will appear in the print edition of USAfrica The Newspaper.
Is
Obasanjo ordained by God to rule
Nigeria? And, other
fallacies. By Prof. Sola Adeyeye
RELIGION
AND ETHNIC CONFLICT: Sharia-related
killings and carnage in Kaduna reenact deadly prologue to
Nigeria-Biafra war
of 1967. By Chido
Nwangwu
|
On the charges by international human rights organizations and Nigerian media that his government has been involved in actions which have led to the deaths of thousands of Nigerians, the retired General gave a surprising answer. He was asked that "as many as
10,000 people, it's being reported, have been killed in
Nigeria (in) communal rivalries, and the number is believed
to be increasing. And people are saying that although
President Obasanjo has done a lot of good for Nigeria,
you're accused of not -- accused of failing to halt that
spiraling violence." Nwangwu, former member of the editorial board of Nigeria's Daily Times continued that "the third factor that is equally important to underscore is that the armed forces of Nigeria moved in for a punitive action rather than just containing a civil disagreement." He noted in USAfricaonline.com backgrounder "it was
revealing and interesting interesting discussing Nigeria's
issues with its leader - under the current circumstances of
an increasingly out-of-schedule elections and the gathering
storm of an impeachment process by a majority of the members
of the National Assembly, predominantly by Obasanjo's party
members." See
rush
transcript of the CNN
International news program.
22 million Africans HIV-infected, ill with AIDS while African leaders ignore disaster-in-waiting Why Colin Powell brings gravitas, credibility and star power to Bush presidency. AFRICA
AND THE U.S. ELECTIONSBeyond U.S. electoral shenanigans, rewards and dynamics of a democratic republic hold lessons for African politics. Osama bin-Laden's goons threaten Nigeria and  Africa's
stability
What
has Africa
to do with September 11
terror?
Africans
reported
dead
in terrorist
attack at
WTC
September
11
terror and
the ghost of things to
come....
Will religious conflicts be the time-bomb for Nigeria's latest transition to civilian rule? Conflicting
emotions, feeling of disappointment, timing of revelation
that Rev. Jackson fathered a child with former aide lead to
charges of "right-wing
orchestration."
THE
FIRST
BLACK
POPE?
To our Brother Cardinal
Arinze: May your pastoral lineage endure!Nigeria's Presidential Election: Is it just for the Highest Bidder? Wong is wrong on Blacks in Houston city jobs Why is 4-year old Onyedika carrying a placard against killings in Nigeria? How Nigeria's Islamic Sharia crises will affect the U.S. USAfrica INTERVIEW "Why African Catholics are concerned about crises, sex abuse issues in our church" - a frank chat with ICCO's Mike Umeorah Why Bush should focus on dangers facing Nigeria's return to democracy and Obasanjo's slipperyslide DEMOCRACY'S WARRIOR Out of Africa. …The cock that crows in the morning belongs to one household but his voice is the property of the neighborhood. -- Chinua Achebe, Anthills of the Savannah. An editor carries on his crusade against public corruption and press censorship in his native Nigeria and other African countries. By John Suval. Should Africa debates begin and end at The New York Times and The Washington Post? No Johnnie Cochran will soon learn that defending Abacha's loot is not as simple as his O.J Simpson's case. By Chido Nwangwu The Economics of Elections in Nigeria HUMAN
RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACYHow far, how deep will Nigeria's human rights commission go? Rtd. Gen. Babangida trip as emissary for Nigeria's Obasanjo to Sudan raises curiosity, questions about what next in power play? COUNTERPOINT'Why is Bill Maher spreading racist nonsense about HIV/AIDS and Africa on ABC? USAfricaonline
LITERATUREAs Chinua Achebe turned 70, Africa's preeeminent statesman Nelson Mandela, Toni Morrison, Wole Soyinka, Ali Mazrui, Leon Botstein (president of Bard College), Ojo Maduekwe, Emmanuel Obiechina, Ngugi wa Thinong'o, Micere Mugo, Michael Thelwell, Niyi Osundare, and an army of some of the world's leading writers and arts scholars joined to pay tribute to him at Bard College in New York. (Achebe is in pix with Morrison). Meanwhile, the Nobel committee has, again, chosen a relatively less known (globally-speaking) Chinese novelist, Gao Xingjian, rather than Achebe for the Literature prize. Achebe was seen as a top favorite for the 2000 award. What the Swedish  Nobel
committee will not give, Achebe has, for well over 30 years,
won in the hearts of millions in 53 languages. By Chido
Nwangwu
Literary giant Chinua Achebe returns "home" from U.S., to love and adulation of community Hate groups' spin by Lamar Alexander benefits anti-Blacks, anti-Semites, and racists Annan, power and burden of the U.N The Civilianizing of African soldiers into Presidents At 39, Nigerians still face dishonest stereotypes such as Buckley's, and other self-inflicted wounds. JFK Jr.: Death of a Good Son 'Why is Bill Maher spreading racist nonsense about HIV/AIDS and Africa on ABC? National Summit on Africa, Congresswoman Jackson-Lee hold policy forum in Houston '100 Black Men are solutions-oriented' says Thomas Dortch, Jr., Richard Johnson and Nick Clayton II as they share perspectives with USAfrica's founder on the national organization. ARTSThe Life and Irreverent times of Afrobeat superstar, FELA  TRIBUTE
Tanzania's founding
president Julius Nyerere
|
 Steve Jobs and Apple represent the future of digital living. By Chido Nwangwu Apple announces Titanium, "killer apps" and other ground-breaking products. iTunes makes a record 500,000 downloads.
The coup in Cote d'Ivoire and its implications for democracy in Africa. By Chido Nwangwu (Related commentary) Coup in Cote d'Ivoire has been in the waiting. By Tom Kamara Nigerian stabbed to death in his bathroom in Houston. DEMOCRACY'S
WARRIOROut of Africa. …The cock that crows in the morning belongs to one household but his voice is the property of the neighborhood. -- Chinua Achebe, Anthills of the Savannah. An editor carries on his crusade against public corruption and press censorship in his native Nigeria and other African countries. By John Suval. Biafra-Nigeria war and history get fresh, critical look from a survivor. By Alverna Johnson and Vivian Okeke. 'Biafra: History Without Mercy' - a preliminary note. By Chido Nwangwu ODUMEGWU EMEKA OJUKWU:"It was simply a choice between Biafra and enslavement! And, here's why we chose Biafra" Biafra: From Boys to Men. By Dr. M.O. Ene Johnnie Cochran will soon learn that defending Abacha's loot is not as simple as his O.J Simpson's case. By Chido Nwangwu Should Africa debates begin and end at The New York Times and The Washington Post? No Nelson Mandela, Tribute to the world's political superstar and Lion of Africa Winnie Madikizela-Mandela's burden mounts with murder charges, trials  CONTINENTAL
AGENDABush's position on Africa is "ill-advised." The position stated by Republican presidential aspirant and Governor of Texas, George Bush where  he
said that "Africa will not be an area of priority" in his
presidency has been questioned by
USAfricaonline.com Publisher Chido
Nwangwu. He added that Bush's "pre-election position was
neither validated by the economic exchanges nor
geo-strategic interests of our two continents."
These views were
stated during an interview CNN's anchor Bernard Shaw and
senior analyst Jeff Greenfield had with Mr. Nwangwu on
Saturday November 18, 2000 during a special edition of
'Inside Politics 2000.'
BUSINESSDr. Anaebonam's strategic vision for BREEJ is a model for business excellence and empowerment. Pope John Paul, Abacha and Nigeria's Christians TRANSITION General Tunde Idiagbon: A nationalist, an iron-surgeon departs Abiola's sudden death and the ghost of things to come Gen. Shehu Musa Yar'Adua's prison death, Nigeria and The Ghost of Things to come ..... Soni Egwuatu, Houston businessman, joins his ancestors |
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democratic way, which is not easy, would probably have been
done by taking arms or by -- with bullets. So, but with
democracy, of course, some people feel that this is the way
this should be, and then I have an opportunity to defend
myself. There is discussion. There is dialogue. There is a
decision. There is fairness." He made
these
Africa
suffers the scourge of the 
Will the rash of 
Why
the revisionist forces of racist oppression in South Africa
should