Dr. Chigbo Sam Eligwe is a chieftain of the Social Democratic Party in Rivers State. He is a former member of the Rivers State House of Assembly. Eligwe was formerly of the All Progressives Congress, APC, where he was a founding member. He is vying to represent the people of Ahoada- West/Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Federal Constituency at the National Assembly. He spoke with Port Harcourt Spectator in an exclusive interview where he shared his insight into why he left the APC and the hopes ahead in SDP.
Question: Kindly introduce yourself?
Response: My name is Hon. Dr. Chigbo Sam Eligwe. I’m an indigene of Ubeta in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Question: You were once a staunch member of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State, what made you to leave the party?
Response: I joined the APC as a foundation member, as one of the leading father’s of the APC during the period Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi had some squabbles with the presidency. We were those members that stood by Amaechi to ensure that his tenure as governor was not truncated. Why did we support Amaechi? We only ask the basic question, what has this man done to you that you want him out of power? We said No! And we ensured that justice prevailed in the situation. So out of 32 members, 27 were stocked with Amaechi and we followed him until the last minute that he completed his tenure. So the APC that I knew then changed drastically. I thought I was joining a party then that I could use my position to bring about developments to my constituency and my people, I thought I was joining a party where there would be equal access for political participation and everybody treated equally, but I saw a party that was being run as a fiefdom where only one individual has the power to allocate values and resources, everything revolves around one person, so that wasn’t democracy to me. At that point I couldn’t remain helpless in a political party and I had to seek refuge in another platform. I saw in the Social Democratic Party, SDP, a place that provides the conducive atmosphere for progressive ideas. I saw the SDP as a party that is genuinely committed to achieving the common aspiration of the people. If you look through their slogan you will see that they are genuinely concerned about the issues facing the masses.
Question: Now that you have secured the ticket of SDP to contest for Ahoada-West/ Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Federal Constituency, what did you do as former Rivers Assembly member that should make your people give you this higher mandate?
Response: First of all, apart from those statutory responsibilities as a legislator which includes passing of bills, oversight functions, constituency projects, you have to have what I call interpersonal skills to bring effective leadership to your people. I also know that in this present system in our state and across the country, there are lots of political apathy, people do not trust politicians that much. In the Rivers State House of Assembly, I was able to deliver all of my constituency projects and commissioned by the government.
Question: Kindly state these projects?
Response: Yes! Ahoada West is divided into three major areas, Engenni, Ubie and Igbuduya. I made sure that I put projects in these areas to reflect the make-up of my constituency.
I did the construction of Government Secondary School, Akinima. In Ubie, I did the Model School Programme in Odioku which was introduced by Her Excellency, Dame Judith Amaechi. In Okugbe which is in Igbuduya, I did sixty two market units and in Ubie as well, I did Corper’s Lodge. We were required to do only three projects and monies were released only for that. During the Ameachi-led government, other projects were approved but monies were not released for that but I still used my personal resources to finish the third project. With all these, ofcourse, I have a track record and the young people who are contesting with me have no track record but being anxious and I will advice them to wait because I am more matured and have the experience, both theoretical and practical experience on how to engage the people and develop the area more than them. On the interpersonal skills I’m talking about, I’m going to bring into play, personable administration where people will see me on regular basis. My schedule would include having a town hall meeting with my people on regular basis. In the United States where I lived before, the congressmen represents the people and are answerable to the people. We have a situation in this country whereby people go all out canvassing for votes and when they have been voted into these offices, they no longer make themselves available and that’s why people do not trust politicians. My coming in this time around is to change the narratives and build trust in my constituency.
Question: Considering that SDP is not too popular to Rivers people like the other two major parties, how are you mobilising to popularise the party in your area?
Response: When you’re talking about general elections, you’re not talking about primary, therefore any candidates that must win election must have a broad based support, meaning the people from various parties must vote you. SDP is a political party that deals on issues, problems of the people. Nigeria is going through a lot of hard times, are we comfortable with the way we are right now? If you’re not able to prove your point both at the state and federal level then you won’t go anywhere. The reason why Bola Tinubu will win the presidential election is because he has a track record. People would go back to Lagos State and see what he did there. All these persons jostling for political powers now, what did they do in their previous seats? Lagos is a destination point in Nigeria because somebody did it, Obi had the opportunity to develop Anambra State but how is Anambra today? Go to Adamawa where Atiku Abubakar comes from, how is Adamawa today? So the point I’m trying to make is that Nigerians have become wiser. Nigerians would vote people who have the competence, people who have the leadership qualities to bring about meaningful changes in this country. For Rivers State, SDP is the second force because there is a ruling party otherwise I would have told you that SDP is the party to beat. We won’t continue to reward cronies, assuming Nyesom Wike has done so much which ofcourse is a question of debate, we won’t continue to repay whatever the lapses are with another four years with the extension of Nyesom Wike. Thesame is true of Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. Rivers people will not allow Amaechi to bring his business partner from Lagos State to come and run the affairs of Rivers State. We need a governor that’s being voted in by Rivers people, all we need is a name that resonates in people because in politics all over the world, where people spend the most is in terms of campaign and name recognition. If you’re not known, you will spend billions of naira driving your name into the nooks and crannies of the state. Even when you have attained popularity, the next would be, what has he done? That’s where Magnus Abe stands higher. Magnus Ngei Abe is someone that is genuinely disposed to bringing leadership to Rivers people. Abe is not anybody’s stooge, nobody brought Abe into the political system here but if you look at the other two political parties, they were brought by someone. Nigerians are tired of a situation whereby when you finish for eight years, you go and bring your business partner to come and run, it’s not going to happen in this state because Nigerians are now wiser. That’s why SDP is the second force in Rivers State politics and what drives that is the personality that is behind it which is Senator Magnus Abe and he has the track record. He has been Minority Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, he’s been Commissioner for Information, he has been a Secretary to State Government and a senator for eight years. As a matter of facts, the success of Amaechi, the victory of Amaechi could be rightly traced to Senator Abe. He’s one of those personalities in Rivers State that brought about Amaechi becoming governor and when you have such a name behind any ticket, it’s bound to sell because it’s marketable.
Question: How would you rate the representation of your constituency in this past four years?
Response: Apart from Senator Wilson Asinobi Ake, some persons don’t even know the name of the person representing us in the House of Representatives and people have lost hope and respect for the office. As a matter of fact, the person representing us there has no constituency office in our area. He doesn’t visit home and the only time he came around was for his re-election and the good thing about ONELGA/AWELGA Constituency is that we have this sharing formula. When Senator Ake did eight years, he relinquished that position to Ahoada West. Ahoada West did eight years under Honourable Asita O. Asita, when he was done it went back to ONELGA. Presently, the person there is the son of Late Eze Chukwumela Nnam-Obi II and his tenure will expire next year. So if anybody is running for the seat of House of Reps from elsewhere in ONELGA, he is just wasting his time because the position is zoned to Ahoada-West. Currently, we are three gunning for that position and amongst them I’m the most qualified because I have the track record and experience as a state legislator and I’m popular in the area.
Question: We know this election is about the people, PVC registration just ended; how far were you able to mobilise your people to obtain theirs?
Response: We are going to be doing massive mobilisation in the area. Remember the last mobilisation was about ProjectSMA in the area and some of the people recruited also went as far as canvassing for PVC registration. To me, I know we have done a good job in that area that’s why we are so positive that SDP will win this election at the state level, federal constituencies and senatorial levels. We are ahead of other political parties because we started the mobilisation early enough under the ProjectSMA which is everywhere in the state.
Question: Message for people of your constituency ahead of this election?
Response: They should be assured that I’m going to give them devoted service because I know what their problems are and I can put a face to it. My area is made up of communities hosting multinationals and I will ensure that there is proper dialogue with the companies for the overall benefit of the people.
Question: Your message to Rivers people as regards SDP and Senator Abe?
Response: They should vote for genuine politicians. Vote a name whose policy resonates with the people. Magnus Abe is different from other politicians because they are not discussing issues. One cardinal point that Abe is talking about is in terms of investment in Rivers State. He’s not talking about going to China to bring people, those are lofty idea but the investors are already here. The average hairdresser, motorcycle rider are investors because it all boils than to you putting food on your table. What are the things that this people needs to enhance their business? Abe is looking at those categories of people in the state. Whether you’re from Yoruba or Igbo, it doesn’t matter so long as you’re contributing to the development of the state and that’s what differentiates Magnus Abe from the others because some of them don’t even know why they want to be governor. I believe that if given the opportunity, SDP and Magnus Abe will provide that leadership and we shall get it right this time.
