A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief George Moghalu is Director National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA)). In this interview with BODE OLAGOKE, he speaks on some of his initiatives at NIWA, 2023 presidency, why he wants to govern Anambra state and the chances of his party in the coming governorship election, among other issues.
Why are you stepping out of NIWA?
I stepped into NIWA and the date to step out is not the issue now. My desire to serve as governor of Anambra state is not a new thing. I am sure you know that I ran for the governorship seat in 2003. It is only because of the desire to change the narrative. I believe very strongly that I have the capacity, ability and determination to change the story of my state. I want to play an active role in getting the state back to where it should be. I believe that lots of things have not been done right. I believe there are better alternatives, better ways to do things to change the story. As we get along, when I will unfold my manifesto, people will understand the driving force.
However, principally, there is a desire and determination to serve our people at the level of the governor. That is without prejudice to the fact that I have a responsibility now which I am doing my best to justify the confidence of Mr. President who appointed me, my ministers who nominated me, my family that has confidence in me and my friends who expect much from me. I believe very strongly that to whom much is given much is expected. At this level, I believe much has been given to me. Then, I have the responsibility to deliver much to the society. For me, it is about service at another level. Even before I become NIWA MD, by the grace of Mr. President, I was chairman of a board of federal parastatal, National Communication Satellite (NICOMSTAT). I served at the state level as chairman of board. That goes to show, without sounding immodest, that I will do the best I can to justify the confidence thrust on my shoulder.
Chances of APC in Anambra state
APC as you know is a national party. There is a new re-awakening across the country, particularly, in the South East. But, the fundamental point is not necessarily about the old narratives. It is about the new consciousness. I keep telling people that we are going into the election with our report cards. We are going to present what APC has been able to do in southeast and Anambra.
We are going to put it side by side with what others have done. Again, we also have to put the credibility, character, capacity, and ability of whoever is going to fly the flag of the party into consideration. That is why it is important that the party takes into cognizance the experience, exposure, capacity, and ability of the contestant that can win election without baggage.
We have very great personalities. Our people are not satisfied with the governance of the state today. It is like having married this man for some time, let us try this other husband. PDP has ruled our state, APGA has ruled our state, why don’t we then try APC to see whether the narrative will change. Let us see the differences so that we can do enormous comparative analysis. As for whether we have the chance, I can tell you, without sounding immodest, that it is our best chance.
Zoning in Anambra state
Truth be told, there is no place an agreement was reached in terms of everybody sitting down to sign a document that it must be zoned to the south. Truth also be told that for justice and fairness, Anambra South should benefit. Moreover, if you look at the narrative of key players like the traditional rulers, critical stakeholders, they will tell you that for things to work properly, the right thing to do is to zone the position of the governorship seat to Anambra South. This is without prejudice to the fact that every street in Anambra state has the capacity to generate a complete cabinet. I can tell you that we are well-schooled. You can have the kind of person you want in all the three senatorial zones of the state. But, for equity and fairness, the tide favours the South. That is why everybody appears to be singing the song that this time around, the ticket should be in the South.
Governorship election in Anambra is billionaires’ race, are you one?
I don’t know whether among the criteria for election now is to be a billionaire. I also know that there is no column to indicate that aspirants should attach bank account in their interest forms. What I can tell you is that I am comfortable by the grace of God. It is not about now. I am a contented person. I know contentment is great riches which gives a lot of peace of mind. As to whether I will run against billionaires, it depends on what Anambra people are looking for. If we are looking for billionaires, we knew where to find them. If we are looking for someone to deliver in terms of service, we know where to find them. One thing I can tell you about our people is that we know what we want. An average Anambra man and woman knows what they want. So, when we get to the bridge, we will cross it. But, what I can tell you without fear of contradiction, is that finance won’t be an issue.
Why are you insistent on being a governor?
I don’t know the premise of your question whether I must be governor. What I don’t know is whether it is because I have tried it two times and going for the third time. Otherwise, I would have given you examples of those that tried three or four times before God answers their prayer. The truth about it is that I am not desperate. I believe very strongly that all powers belong to God. And he gives it to whoever He pleases at his own time. You must make yourself available for God to use you. If it is the will of God that I will be governor, nothing can stop it. If it is His will that I will not be governor, nothing can also make it possible. Let me say at this stage that for every opportunity that you have to serve, posterity will remember you. That is my guiding principle. In any position, I give it my best shot so that when I leave office I will be remembered. In offices I have held in the past and in NIWA presently, I have done everything I can. For example, you may be aware that for about 42 years, the Onitsha Port was designed and built, it is under my administration that it had the first commercial badge. We are doing everything we can to ensure that our river port and those that are under construction are completed and functional because I believe very strongly that the only way you can address port congestion and infrastructural decay is by making the waterways functional. All over the world, bulk cargos are either moved by water or by rail. Our roads are not designed to carry the pressure they are carrying. If the waterways are functional, over 60 to 70 containers that arrived Lagos today have their final destination in Onitsha or Aba. If we can take those going to Onitsha and move them by water for example, we will take 50 containers out of the roads. What we have done is that we have taken 100 trailers out of the roads. 50 going and 50 coming with empty. If we can do this and achieve it, I can assure you that we are good to go. I want to be governor because I want to serve. I know how many times Lincoln tried to be a counsellor and didn’t get it. He tried to be a House of Representatives member but didn’t get it. He tried Senate and didn’t get it. But when he tried President, he got it. So you don’t know what the plan of God is. If you enter a dark room with candlelight there is light you can see your face. If you enter the same room with a fluorescent tube it becomes brighter. If you take floodlight into the room, it becomes light. That is governance. You cannot give what you don’t have. So, they have given you what they have. I am confident and convinced that I will do better.
Are there plots to impose candidate at the primary?
The question should not have come to me but to the party because I was not part of a meeting to impose a candidate. However, I agree with those who are saying that for any democratic process to be credible, peaceful, and successful at the end of the day, the party primary process must be credible and acceptable. One good thing about credible primary is that it encourages unity among members after the primary. It is easier to lose and the person reconciles with a party, the establishment and moves on. When you feel short-changed and deceived that the process was schemed ab initio, with the intention to get you out of the way, if it eventually happens, there is likelihood and tendency to fight back. That is not usually in the interest of the party. Just like you on the outside, my appeal is let the process be free, fair, and credible.
Assurance of victory at the polls
I am convinced. God’s time is now. And that is why I am going to give it my best shot for the will of God to be done.
On agitation for South East to produce the next president?
It is also important for us to learn that power is not given but taken. The president of Igbo extraction means that far down Kastina, Yenagua, Calabar, Lagos etc., they all have a stake in the person who wants to be president because democracy is about numbers. So, it is incumbent on us now the South Easterners to think out of the box, build bridges and rebuild broken ones, make friends because every election has two stages, primary and main election. We need to see to what extent we are in control of the party structures because you and I know that as of today, only two parties are in existence, the APC and PDP. If that is true, to what extent are we working hard to influence party’s structures because there is no provision for independent candidates? Therefore, we need to work very hard as a people. We need to unite ourselves. We need to understand in all honesty that we have the confidence of all for the role they will play of a Nigerian president of Igbo extraction. He has to be elected by Nigerians. It is not about the Igbos alone electing the President; it would have been a lot easier if Igbos are electing their president. Wherever we are we all come home and elect our president. We are looking for the president of Nigeria but of Igbo extraction. We need to get the buy-in of everybody. We need to win the confidence of everybody. It is not a responsibility for one person. It is our responsibility to the people. We must unite ourselves. Those in the party work very hard to win the confidence of the people so that the ticket will be given to an Igbo son or daughter. Let those in PDP work hard and those in APC do the same so that they can give the ticket to Igbo son or a daughter. When that happens and by tomorrow the candidate of APC is Igbo and the candidate of PDP is Igbo, it’s a case of head or tail. These things are possible but, it is a case of how are we prepared for the election to pursue that agenda. It is doable. Who doesn’t want the President to come from his compound? I want it for my family. It is something we should be talking about. Who will know that a President will come from his compound and say he doesn’t want it? So, everybody wants it. Everybody must also work hard so that we will get it.
Who is (are) your political godfather(s)?
God and the people are my godfathers. If you check my political history and trajectory, you can’t find any of such godfathers. But, I respect leaders. There are influential leaders who have opinions and it will be unfair to ignore them. You will also find it necessary to convince them to see your vision from the same prism if they are convinced they will do everything within human capacity to see that you succeed. Nobody can come out today and claim he is my godfather. God is my Godfather and everybody knows that in my politics. I respect people, I honour them even the people you consider poor. The truth about it is that if one million people put 100 Naira, it is already a N100 million. So it is about the narrative for people to buy into it. Once they buy into it, God’s willing, your destination is assured. My Godfather is God in heaven and the people he is going to use in Anambra state.
Can you step down in the primary for anybody?
The issue of stepping down does not even arise. I wonder who will look at me and ask me to step down. My decision to run for office was taken in my closest how can anyone come out and say I should step down. Such will not even arise, I can assure you.
Will Anambra people trust APC?
Why will they not trust APC when the facts are on the ground? I just use one example. In 16 years they were flagging off the Niger bridge. Every four years they flag it off and after flagging it off they dismantle the canopies and the story ended there until Buhari came into office and we are talking of the completion date. Is that not enough story to tell? Let me also draw your attention to the fact that there was a time in this country that an Igbo son was Deputy Senate President and Deputy Speaker. An Igbo was chairman Senate committee on works. An Igbo son was committee chairman on works. An Igboman was secretary to the Government of the Federation; Igbo daughter was Minister for Finance and Coordinating Minster of the economy. Yet no one kilometre road was tarred in the South- east states. Enugu to Onitsha collapsed completely. But, today work is ongoing. That is why I said we are going to go to the election with our report cards. If we have refused to sing our songs, we are going to sing them during the election. If you are the only one licking this soup and you say it is very sweet, the only way I will agree that the soup is sweet is when you lick and allow me to lick. Then when I lick I will say I agree with you that it is sweet.
