By Don Peter Okoro.
The PDP Candidate for Otolo Ward 1 in the last Local Government election Prince (Hon.) Ogueke Nwafor–Orizu recently had an interactive session with a Select Group of Journalists where he spoke on a wide range of issues including the forthcoming Nzuko-ora election. He also spoke on the Anambra South Senatorial Bye-Election, the condition of Anambra State and the last Local Government election and how he was disenfranchised among other topics. It’s a very interesting chat. Sit back on enjoy it .
On the forthcoming Nzuko-ora Election, he has this to say:
“With what I’ve been seeing in Nnewi, it’s a pity that we’ve not really stood up to expectations in Nnewi. People see Nnewi as a great and mighty town which is supposed to be, but the Local politics that we are playing in Nnewi is making the town to draw back to where it is not supposed to be. Talking about the forthcoming Nzuko-ora Election, there are a couple of Candidates.
Enem has gone, Nnofor has gone, it’s supposed to be the turn of Nsunano. But I don’t see Nsunano making such moves. And if Nsunano is not going, it has to come back to Nnofor. From what I’m seeing, If it comes to Nnofor which is a good alternative, without mincing words, I’ll prefer someone like Prof. Edwin Chukwuma Oyi I am rooting for him because of his personality. He is someone that no one can push around. He has a name and whatever he says is where he stands.
That is the kind of person we need in Nnewi now. I can recollect when Senator Ifeanyi Ubah was alive, he was the one fighting tooth and nail to make sure things happen. He crashed the notion of.”Oga has said this,Oga has said that.” Somebody like Oyi will always stand for the Truth.”
Continuing he said: “What we need is someone that is principled like Oyi.We don’t want someone that is ready to fall for everything. That is what will make Nnewi great again. We want someone that can stand on his own and decide to do what will favour the community. Godfatherism must end in Nnewi.”
On the forthcoming Anambra South Senatorial Bye-Election, and why it’s fair for Nnewi to complete the tenure of Ifeanyi Ubah, he opined: “For me, it is fair to allow Nnewi complete their tenure, so that when another time comes it can go elsewhere.
But if truly Nnewi want to retain it, they should collectively bring out one or two people. Not this one that everybody is just flying out, if it continues like this, Nnewi votes will be divided.”
Asked to narrow down the Aspirants to the serious ones, he replied: “Yes there are a number of them, but knowing fully well the kind of person Onwa Nwafor–Orizu is, I think he is the best Candidate. I think it is high time we moved away from those people who have been in politics for too long.
Onwa is a politician who read Politics and he is a Master in it. He may not be active at the grassroots, but he understands everything we need. If someone like him can go in there, nobody can push him to do what is not supposed to be done.
What I know is that if he is voted in, Anambra South will be fully represented, because I know his capacity.”” Prince Ogueke Nwafor–Orizu who is a product of Good Shepherd Secondary School Nnewi, studied Architecture at Abia State University and did his National Youth Service Corps in Niger State. He is presently practicing his profession as well as working as the Manager of Super Royal Hotel Amichi Nnewi South LGA. He equally works as one of the Personal Assistants to Ochendo Simon Okeke the former Chairman of the Police Service Commission He described the last Local Government election as a selection and not election because there were no Voting Materials at his polling booth and nobody voted.
He said going to court would amount to wasting of time and resources because the judiciary is under the firm control of the State Government. He however commended the Soludo Government for the new Security initiative code named Agunechemba.
He explained that security of lives and property is supposed to be the first responsibility of any serious Government. Looking at the future, he said: “All I know is that we have started the journey and the journey continues.