I JOIN POLITICS FOR THE INTEREST OF OUR PEOPLE -Barr. Osigwe
Barr. Onyeka Osigwe is a lawyer based in Abuja. In this interview with Anaedooline, he expresses his burning desire to represent Nnewi Federal Constituency with a view to initiating a legislation that will better the lots of the constituency.
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Excerpts:
COULD YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO OUR AUDIENCE PLEASE?
My name is Onyeka Osigwe and I’m a lawyer based in Abuja
WHEN DID YOU FIRST DECIDE TO RUN FOR POLITICAL POST AND WHY?
I reluctantly use the word “change” because that word has been bastardized and has negative connotations for many Nigerians. However, I want a different representation in my constituency, because the position has not been challenged before. You had all sorts of people acting the way they want, so, I want to actually put the interests of my people forward, do something about it and be in close touch with my constituents.
RUNNING FOR THE INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE OF NNEWI NORTH/SOUTH/EKWUSIGO FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY, HOW DO YOU PLAN TO CHAMPION THEIR BEST INTERESTS WHEN YOU GET INTO THE HOUSE?
My primary interest is business and I’d like to defend the interest of our businessmen in Nnewi that have had issues with running their business either through the negligence of those in power or the outright victimization of these businessmen by the federal government. We haven’t seen any of our politicians -the senators and house of reps’ members. These people, instead of going the extra mile to protect their people, prefer to protect only their own political standing with the federal government. A very obvious case in view is Innoson who had major issues with the government in the guise of the EFCC and GTBank, who engineered a shut-down of his business. After noticing this, I and a few other concerned Nnewi citizens protested every step of the way, not out of personal reasons, but because men like Innoson inspire other young businessmen to also set up businesses in the area, providing jobs for many people and boosting the economy of the state and country.
AS A CHRISTIAN, HOW MUCH DOES YOUR RELIGION INFLUENCE AND GUIDE YOUR POLITICAL MOVES?
I’m a Christian by birth and faith, but religion has never been an issue for me in guiding my principles. I’m more of a realist than a moralist. I believe so much in morals than religion to lead others. I’m guided more by my moral principles than by my religious principles because you’ll see a lot of people that’ll claim to be servants of God and meanwhile they are just leading people astray. What I’m saying is that my religious beliefs are personal to me and if elected to represent my people, I’ll lead them based on their needs in the community.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE CURRENT POLITICAL CLIMATE IN THE COUNTRY?
To be honest with you, I haven’t been comfortable with it for a while now. People that are suited for the ruling aren’t in power. The irony is that the exact group of people totally unsuited for the rule are the ones leading this country and the current dire state of affairs in the country perfectly reflects their inadequacy to lead this country of ours forward. Now, I know I’m expected to give a politically correct answer but that has never been me, and I don’t plan to start that ever. Take, for example, Osinbajo and Buhari, in what world is Buhari equipped to rule this country and Osinbajo as VP? But that is exactly what is happening. Same with Atiku and Peter Obi. These are men unfit for rule, hiding behind their competent deputies. People like Soludo are passed over while men like Buhari are doing nothing in the corridors of power. I feel this is an institutional problem and as long as inadequate men like Atiku and Buhari exist as leaders, this country can’t make any forward steps.
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WHAT PARTY WILL YOU BE RUNNING UNDER?
I’ll be running under the umbrella of the Independent Democrats. This is because the issues they are focused on tackling are the same ones I’m passionate about. The prominent parties like APC and PDP have handed us two terrible choices and asked us to choose the lesser evil. That is not an option for me
DO YOU THINK MORE YOUTHS SHOULD BE RUNNING FOR POLITICAL POSTS IN THE TIMES AHEAD?
While I can be classified as a youth, I don’t believe in that as a criterion alone in choosing leaders. Anybody contesting for a political post should be competent and above all, have the desire to better the lives of his community members and the country in general. The criteria for choosing leaders should not be about their youth alone but rather about their track record in working for the public and their zeal to shake things up and make this country of ours a better place.
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WHAT ARE YOUR VIEWS ON HOW TO GENERATE MORE JOBS FOR OUR COMMUNITIES BASED ON AREAS LIKE MANUFACTURING?
As a young kid growing up in Nnewi, our people are very industrious; and even back then, they never needed the help of government to thrive because there still existed, in terms of infrastructure, enough for the average businessman to get on. Forward to the present day, however, and all these things have largely fallen into a state of decay. Growing up then, someone like Innoson sold motorcycle spare parts and through hard work, built himself up to where he is now, and all without government assistance. However, despite all these efforts, the manufacturing industry in the east has been hit hard due to a dearth of adequate infrastructure. For example, I heard a couple of days ago about a harvest of yams and tomatoes that were just rotting away on the farms because the cost of transporting them down to markets was too high so the produce was just abandoned. Good infrastructure is all that is needed for manufacturers to thrive.
IF YOU GET INTO THE FEDERAL HOUSE, WHAT BILLS WOULD YOU PUSH THROUGH?
For the average businessman, the cost of shipping goods into the country has become so high that more businessmen are closing up factories in the east and relocating them to the south-west, hence depriving a lot of people jobs and their sources of livelihood. You also have instances of customs officials harassing businessmen. In my capacity as a lawyer, I’ve been called in to help people who have been caught in the trap of greedy customs officers. However, these efforts aren’t enough and hopefully, I can help more and contribute even more meaningfully if voted into the house of reps.
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