I WANT TO SEE TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE IN ORUMBA NORTH AND SOUTH FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY – CHINWE NNABUIFE

In 2019, Princess Chinwe Nnabuife, also known as the Orumba Lioness, contested for the Orumba North and South Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives under the platform of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), but lost at the election tribunal. As she has again entered the race, she recently had a chat with select Journalists. What are her views and worries? Excerpts:

My name is Princess Chinwe Nnabuife. I am a native of Umunze in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State. I am a graduate of Mass Communication; a businesswoman and politician by inclination.  I’m contesting for the Orumba North and South Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives under the platform of Young Progressives Party. In the election in 2019, they stole my mandate. In the upcoming general elections in 2023, I will regain the Orumba North and South Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives under same party because the mandate of the good and loyal people of the Orumba North and South Federal Constituency is still in my custody and their support remains unwavering. I say so with ultimate trust and confidence in God, the Almighty, who will pull down all barriers, because He directs my affairs.

You lost your case at the election tribunal…

Yes, I lost the case but not the mandate. Yes, I was taken for a ride. In party politics contests, the antithesis is a win or lose.  It was unfortunate my mandate was stolen, but I am not inclined to recounting that past. I am a progressivist at heart; forward-looking at all times and in all situations. I’m back in the race; gallant as ever. I believe in mankind’s ability to improve the environment and conditions of life; I believe I have the obligation to intervene in economic and social affairs; I believe in the ability of experts and in the efficiency of government.

If elected as member of the House of Reps for the Orumba North and South Federal Constituency, my interest and focus would be towards establishing a more transparent and accountable representative leadership geared towards improving the Nigerian society. I will support such policies as civil service reform, food security laws, and increased political rights for women and Nigerian workers, national security, national unity and inclusion, social justice etc.

Your constituency…. (She cuts in)

Yes, a Reps member must also consider the concerns of his constituency because that is why the electorate gave them the right, the mandate to represent them. Primarily, my desire is to assist the collective effort to bring development to Orumba North and South and ensure such efforts are sustained for the social and economic growth and development of the area and the wellbeing of our people. For concrete and long term improvements to take place in Orumbaland— underlining democratic dividends— we need leaders who are ready to set the pace. We need leaders with enlightened minds, with fresh ideas; with the right experimental mindset to kick start the process of accelerating development in the Orumba nation. 

Orumba North and South need a legislator who is a progressive thinker if you like; not an individual who is bereft of fresh ideas. We need a legislator who is open to change; not a complacent individual who cannot come up with new ways of doing things. We need a legislator who is concerned about the welfare of the people; not a self-centered man or women who will be there only to make the money and look down on our people.

Orumba North and South Federal Constituency need a House of Reps member who can assume a position of active, resolute defense for Orumba North and South people against any assailing danger; not a lily-hearted individual who feels that they do not need to do anything about a situation, even though the situation may be uncertain or dangerous.

Orumba need a member of the House of Reps who knows the value of investing in human capital and is ready to invest in the youth; not a self-satisfied man or woman wishing to maintain things as they are; not a laid back leader who is not ready to use his office to create opportunities and benefits for our people, especially in political matters.

Yearly, our children graduate from tertiary institutions, but they remain unemployed. Our socio-economic progress is not ascertained. Our roads are broken, but no one is paying attention even when the issue is raised; our hospitals are in comatose; no drugs, no doctors, no nurses, no labs, but no one is paying attention even when the issues are raised; workers, teachers are not paid as when due; our children are perpetually out of school, but no one pays attention even when the issues are raised. Can you imagine the high cost of food items? Can you imagine the hike in transport fare? Our mothers, our fathers, our sisters, our brothers; everyone in back home are suffering. But we have people representing us.

I am not saying when you become a legislator and go to Abuja you can turn things round in a jiffy.

I am not saying the National Assembly is where you can get all the jobs quickly for your people.

I am not saying when elected to the National Assembly, all legislators become millionaires and should come home with sacks of money for share. Emphatic No! The question to ponder about is what manner of individuals do we elect to represent us? The National Assembly is not where you can turn things round in a jiffy, agreed. But, representative democratic leadership is something requiring both intellectual and imaginative effort.

In our unique Nigerian setting, what are the responsibilities of a House of Reps member to those who cast their votes to qualify him to occupy that office? What should a legislator see doing for his constituency? What are the expectations of the electorates from Orumba North and South Federal Constituency?

You want to take the seat of the Orumba North and South Federal Constituency in the House of Reps, what are you bringing to the table?

Excellent question. But I think the question carries a death knell only if rephrased this way: The campaign for the 2023 elections is one of issues and ideas. So, what are my contenders bringing to the table?

Let me say this quickly: People are desperate to go back to the national assembly, but the question is: what have they done for the growth of Orumba land and the welfare of her peoples?  Of what standing are they in the eyes of all the communities? I assert that their achievements in the last four years cannot produce a compelling profile for them to campaign confidently for reelection in 2023. They cannot stand face-to-face with the youth, or our mothers and fathers in this campaign of issues, even if virtually—unless the shameless—because doing so will be tantamount to stirring up a hornet’s nest; and the result will be self-destruct (hara-kiri) of their political career. Standing before the people to request for reelection will be equivalent to signing their own certificate of retirement from politics, because, I believe, the Orumba electorate will confront them viciously.

The only candidate who can confidently stand face-to-face with the youth or our mothers and fathers in the village squares in Orumba, North and South, and campaign to the end in tranquility, on issues and ideas affecting our communities is none other than me. The candidate who can request Orumba North and South people to give her candidature the votes without fear of being molested is me.

What gives you such self-confidence?

I do not need to blow my own trumpet. The Orumba North and South constituents will answer for me; they will tell you how I have paid my dues.

Let me comment on one important issue. If I may ask, what is one of the main factors trying to create disunity in Orumba?

For natural justice, equity and good conscience to take their course, in Orumba North and South, our law restricts a legislator’s tenure of office to 4 years. But today our honourable House of Reps member, having served the recommended 4 years, is hell bent to run another illegal term. Where are the legacies of his representational function in Orumba land for the last four years? My mandate in 2019 was stolen. What are his representational credentials?

Where exactly did he go wrong?

I am a team player. I believe in effective representation. Legislators worth their onions remain true to the fundamental purposes of representative democracy and the legislative system.  Our Reps member is lacking.  Orumba constituents expect and deserve the highest standard of public service from their elected representatives. But what we see from our Reps member is a sheer lack of performance, judging his representational function. He has been grossly lacking in Constituent service, which includes responding to constituents’ request for help and taking care of the constituency’s interests with respect to government-grants and assistance, local project support, and etceteras.

Talking about local projects, the development of a community’s infrastructure is vital. Improved infrastructure attracts investment. Improved infrastructure promotes sustainable and inclusive economic growth. Improved infrastructure augments productivity and quality of life of constituents. We would be doomed if we continue in that direction. Orumba North and South Federal Constituency need a dynamic individual to represent us in the House of Reps. We need an individual who can relate to the concerns of the Orumba youth who are suffering; the men and women who have been impoverished by the system, the aged and the young who are increasingly loosing hope, the widows and orphans who live in penury and are daily lamenting and begging for food or clothing. We need an individual who can shake up the establishment; not again a laidback legislator.

Women and Children in Orumba North and South are deserving of a good treat by our sons and daughters who are in leadership positions. Orphans and Widows in Orumba North and South are deserving of a good treat by our sons and daughters who are in leadership positions. Mothers and fathers, the aged and the young of Orumba North and South are deserving of a good treat by our sons and daughters who are in leadership positions.

Our sons and daughters who are in leadership positions must listen to the youth of Orumba North and south. The streets, drainages, public schools, health centres in Orumba North and South are deserving of the attention of our sons and daughters who are in leadership positions because that is the reason why we voted for them. Orumba North and South Federal Constituency need a legislator who can represent the interest of ordinary people; an individual who will support and advocate for improvement and reforms of conditions in society and in government. And the person most qualified to occupy that position is Princess Chinwe Nnaduife

You have attained high level leadership in the private sector, but you have not tested political leadership

It was the Greek Mathematician, Achimedes, who said, ‘Give me a place to stand and I will move the world.’ If given an opportunity to represent my people at the National Assembly, I will prove I have enough to offer Nigeria and Nigerians in terms of thought leadership. I will be the go-to legislator that will set the national discourse and agenda on issues—such as sustainable urban development because that is my background; on strengthening actions on climate issues, because erosion is taking over our communities as much as domestic and industrial wastes are becoming too much a menace even in rural communities; on children issues because I am a mother; on gender policy as affects women because I am a woman.

Women are still under-represented and obviously marginalized in democratization in legislative and executive arms of government; few women take the lead in local government. The 360 members of the House of Representatives and the 109 senators in the National Assembly comprises how many women? By the special grace of God, I will be among the women who will populate the 10th Assembly. I will be there to advocate on behalf of Orumba North and South Federal Constituency.

Nigerians are yearning for good governance, for leaders who are honest and possess the ideas to take us out of this depth of hardship and underdevelopment.  In 2023, Princess Chinwe is going to be among those that will build a new Nigeria.  A nation where peace, unity, justice and progress will reign supreme.

What can you say are your experiences or new knowledge gained since you lost election in 2019?

Compassion and empathy are the driving force of my political career. Though they stole away my mandate, I have adhered to the Bible counsel that it is virtuous to forgive. Forgiving people who have wronged you or disagreed with you is an important virtue even in politics. I have been wronged at each turn, but did not keep malice, or turned my back on anyone. Sometimes people do wrong things unknowingly. I am aware that in politics, seeking personal interest is like the norm, but I think that disposition is wrong. It is greed, not service. And greed is not a virtue.  On the other hand, we of course must learn to create room for compromise. I believe I have paid my dues in that regard.

What are your parting remarks?

I want to make laws that will be beneficial to Orumba North and South Federal Constituency and Nigeria in general. I like challenges. I have been managing my multiple roles as a mother and a business woman cum politician successfully. Politics is a more challenging enterprise.

The times are changing and we must endeavor to change with the seasons. We cannot afford to allow forces that don’t want our progress to continue to tie us down. As individual or groups, we must strive to move on. Orumba North and South must change even if it requires force.  We must vigorously pull ourselves out of the circle of neglect and backwardness. Let’s shake off the self-serving politicians. The collective development and growth of Orumba North and South must not remain compromised.

If I win the election to the House of Reps, I will contribute to making sound and effective laws for a progressive Nigeria. I will not be a bench warmer, but a change maker. My ideal is to recalibrate and rejuvenate the Nigerian system. Unless we build our nation, no one else will do it for us.