I Have The Plan To Change Anambra, Says Madu

Chief Edozie Madu, a chieftain of the APC in Anambra State has joined the gubernatorial race to succeed Governor Willie Obiano. He spoke with EKPEDEME UMOH in this interview on why he entered the race, his chances, plans if elected, Igbo presidency and other topical issues. Excerpts:

The last time you contested for a political position, it was for the presidency under the Independent Democrats (ID). You have just joined the Anambra State gubernatorial race under the All Progressives Congress (APC). What informed your decision to be in the race?

I am from Anambra State and qualified to be governor. I have looked at the way things are going and I think I have a better plan to make the state move forward. That is why I joined the race. I have looked at what the past governors have done and I think I have a better plan that can bring rapid development to the state.

What is your take on the current security challenges and rising inflation in the country and what would you do differently for your state if and when elected as the governor. What do you think will be required to ensure Nigeria’s economic transformation?

In the area of security and the way things are going, you have seen that the service chiefs have just been removed by the president. He has decided to take a new dimension by trying new hands to fix the security situation. I think that is exactly what is going on now. The president is doing a lot to make sure that the situation is under control and you can see the redeployment of military personnel to the north -east and everywhere in Nigeria now. 

I think he is trying another method and the method is working because if you look at what is happening in the north-east, the new service chiefs are trying to bring the situation to the barest minimum. On the issue of inflation, our major problem is that we do not have a proper workforce. Infrastructural development brings employment. But, I think the government is doing a lot in this aspect of infrastructure.

Anambra State is the home of intellectual and economic giants. How deep is your pocket to match some of these aspirants who have influential godfathers’ naira for naira?

I am an oil magnate. I was national chairman for Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), national chairman of Independent Democrats, all funded by me. I was a presidential candidate in the last general elections in 2019. If a deep pocket is the criteria to win the election, then I am going to be the governor.

What is your position on a president of Igbo extraction in 2023?

I don’t believe in that. Power is not a la carte; you have to struggle for it. If the south-east wants the presidency, they should go and discuss with other zones. We have to discuss with other zones, they have to support us to make a case for ourselves. It’s not something you’ll just sit and say oh, presidency from Igbo extraction. That is bullshit and I am not part of it. If that is the way they want to go, it won’t work.

Anambra South is being destroyed by gully erosion as well as other parts of the state, what is your blueprint for environmental protection?

I do not want to go into many details, but I can tell you that a lot has been done by the Federal Government. I am from Anambra South, so I know what you are talking about, degradation of the environment and the erosion problem. Now that you have just mentioned it, a lot is being done and I am impressed.

There are lots of heavyweights aspiring to be governor of Anambra State. Why do you think the electorate should vote for you?

There is no heavy and small weight as we are all qualified. If you look at their resume, you will see that they have done well in their different endeavours. It is a contest and the people will decide who they want. I have done quite a lot before running for the governorship. I have done philanthropy not just in my state Anambra, but in Nigeria as a whole and people know me. Some of these aspirants because they want to run for a position in office have begun to assist people, but I have been assisting people for the last 15 years and will do a lot more when I am elected.