Engr. Moses Chigozie Anene is the Anambra state House of Assembly candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Awka South II State constituency in the forthcoming general elections. In this interview with OKEY CHRIS in Awka, he explains his mission to the assembly.
Background
Anene is from Nibo in Awka South local government area of Anambra state. I read Chemical Engineering at Anambra state University (now Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University) Igbariam. I was the President, Faculty of Engineering of that institution during which I emerged as the best Faculty President. I underwent my NYSC service year in Bauchi state; where I emerged as the best Youth Corp member in the entire state. I constructed a block of two classrooms and chairs for the school where I served and the community gave him a chieftaincy title of Barade (Great warrior) in Bauchi emirate council. The community unanimously requested and got approval from the state government to change the school’s name to Moses Chigozie Anene Primary School, Kafin Kafawa. All these are impacts one has to make because I believe in making a difference worth remembering for in any system I found myself. I won Anambra Youths Achievers of the year award on creative writing. I have published three books. I have also received an award from the former governor Peter Obi during his tenure. Last year, I was one of the 1, 000 people that emerged as winners of Tony Elumelu African Entrepreneurship award. I have written a lot of articles on entrepreneurship. I need a platform to enrich my generation.
Why did you throw your hat into the ring?
As a young Nigerian, I have been observing the governance processes in Nigeria. I am one of those unhappy over the ways things are going in this country. I joined in advocating for Not Too Young to Run Bill recently passed into Law and assented to by the President, which gives the younger generation opportunity to participate in the leadership processes. We discovered that a lot of things are not going the way they should and everything is affecting everyone, especially the youth. All of us desired to make a change to certain things not moving in the right ways. So, I decided to be there to create an impact in the lives of everyone, especially the people of Obizi. Charity is said to begin at home. We have to start changing our present environment.
How do you plan to make a difference as a lawmaker, given that you belong to an opposition (PDP) in APGA-dominated state?
It is not only about law-making because many laws have been made at the state and national levels. The truth of the matter is that lawmakers have not done much in terms of oversight functions. Some of them are not doing anything. They are not checkmating the executive.
If those meant to checkmate the executive are not doing it, what do you expect the executive to do? They end up doing whatever they feel like; because nobody will ask them questions, nobody will investigate their activities. I believe things will get better when the lawmakers go for oversight functions. My major part of contributions will be oversight function. I want to improve on oversight functions by checkmating the ministries and parastatal. That will make the commissioners, heads of agencies and even the governor to sit-up because someone is asking questions.
Recent investigation shows that parties in the majority always affect or determine the outcome of oversight function in most parts of the country. How do you plan to make your voice heard if APGA dominates the legislative chamber in the 7th Assembly?
It is about the individual involved. If I find myself there, my voice must be heard even if a lone voice or minority. I have conscience. The people are there also. If they refuse to listen to my voice, I will call for a press conference to make the world know the points I’m trying to make. The governor will hear that. So, the issue of being in the majority or minority will not arise. Besides, we may not even be a in the minority in the 7th Assembly due to the way PDP is making waves. But what matters most is the individual; what we are able to do and quality will determine our contributions in the legislative chamber for good of the entire state.
Not Too Young to Run is one of the most important bills sponsored by Nwulu at the House of Representatives. Do you have any specific bill or motion in mind to sponsor once you get there?
I have a lot within my capacity, but we will take it gradually. In Awka South II constituency, it is like we are not being recognised yet we are part of Awka capital development authority. We lack social amenities, including road construction. Some of communities in my constituency like Ezinato and Isiagu are completely cut off from the state capital. If you are to enter Isiagu or Ezinato, you have to pass through Awka I constituency before you get there. These people of my constituency are rich in agriculture with a large expanse of land. I want to push for the government to connect them to other communities.
Again, the road to Nibo is divided into two with government blocking part of it. This road needs to be reopened for free flow of traffics. The water facility in Nibo seemed to be moribund. We have over-head tank not been put into use. The medical health centre at Isiagu is not functioning. Most of these things have existing laws backing their operations. But they are not functional. A lot of things have to be done to get them functional. A lot of laws are in existence, but yet to be implemented. My own position is that the existing laws should be implemented, and the executive should be check-mated to sit-up.
Do you think those that have represented your constituency have underperformed?
The truth of the matter is that some of them have performed. But the performance I am talking about is that the executive has to sit-up. Representation is one thing; another thing is executive listening to him. If I am voted in, I will keep pushing to get the executive hearken to our cries.
Obizi is one of the constituencies in Nigeria where issues of rotational representation play out at every election. For instance, you are from Nibo, and the people of Ezinato may agitate that next the member for Awka II constituency must come from their town. How would you reconcile this issue?
The issue of rotational representation does not matter. What matters most is effective representation. If someone from Umuawulu can represent us well, let him continue. The family or community one comes from does not matter. The most important thing is to give Mr. A what is due to him, and Mr. B what is due to him and so on. Don’t segregate. The person is representing our entire constituency not their family or community alone. So, people must feel their impact.
Now that the provision of keke or motorcycle has become a cultural way of empowering youths in Nigeria, would it also define you empowerment initiative?
No! The youth are my primary constituency. I am feeling whatever they are feeling because I am a youth. My friends and associates are also youths. There burden is my burden. I have designed a skills acquisition programme for the youths, but not only that. My programme which I called earliest partner is partnership for a new beginning. As a member of the House of Assembly, I designed it in a way that I can empower about 20 or 30 people per year. In order to empower more than this, we need to partner with other stakeholders. Government should be all-inclusive. Everybody should make an input. That is why I initiated this programme, Let’s Partner. We will partner with government agencies, both federal and states, for these people to be empowered.
We have millionaires and philanthropists in our society to be identified and plead to partner with us to empower the youth. With them, we can empower 100 youths. Keke and okada are not means of empowerment. We will help our youths to learn skills like plumbing, tiling, POP, and so on. They will also be given working tools to start up the work. Some of them are skilled and industrious, but don’t have someone to sponsor or help them to explore these things.
Anambra state House of Assembly is one where the bill for local government autonomy suffered defeat recently. Do you intend to resuscitate it when elected?
Local government autonomy is the most important thing we need at this stage. This is because local government areas supposed to function independently, create and utilise their Internally Generated Revenue windows for development of the hinterlands (rural dwellers). When everything is concentrated in the state, rural dwellers suffer set back in terms of development. I will champion that course. But I hope Mr. President will do the needful by signing it into law before I get there.
What other qualities do you want to influence voters’ decisions in the forthcoming elections?
I usually tell people to ask questions before they vote for someone especially those of us contesting for House of Assembly. The communities are interconnected. You can call anyone to confirm my identity. My past records will convince you. The era of money politics has gone. We have learnt our lessons. We can’t continue making the same mistake that will haunt us tomorrow. Constituents should focus more on the capacity of those that want to represent them. What is his or her position? Has he tested leadership positions before? What are his past records? All these things should inform their decisions to vote someone regardless of political party affiliations.
