Hon. Chidi Mark Obetta is representing Nsukka/Igbo-Eze South federal constituency of Enugu state in the 10th National Assembly. He spoke to a select newsmen. BONIFACE Okeke attended.

 Q . Sir, your experiences in the past one year and few months in the National Assembly

 A . I have been having a bit sense of fulfilment since I came to the National Assembly, though the tasks have been challenging. What inspired me when I decided in 2010 to get  into politics was to touch more lives.  At that time I was in the entrepreneurial sector. I was doing well in the hospitality sector, real estate businesses and construction services.

I provided jobs to many people, especially my co-youths. But I still didn’t feel fulfilled. My instinct was still disturbing and pushing me to go and seek a political position. And the driving force was for me to get a broader platform that will enable me touch more lives, especially my co-youths. And also contribute to creating a better future for unborn generations.

 This is the opportunity of my being in the 10th National Assembly where I am representing my good people of Nsukka/Igbo-Eze South federal constituency has provided to me.

On the other hand, it has also been a challenging moment for me. I have been pulling every string to deliver to my people. I don’t want to give any excuses for not getting whatever is due for them from the federal government. I made a covenant with them that I will give them quality representation. I promised that I won’t allow them lose anything that was due to them, that would be my responsibility to get for them as their representative in the National Assembly.

And since I came to the National Assembly, I have discovered that it requires high level negotiating capacity,  intelligence and diplomacy to relate well with your House Leadership and co-legislators  so as to enable you get dividends of democracy for your constituents. And, I give glory to God for He has been giving me the guidance.

 Q . what are your successes within the period.

 A . Naturally, I don’t like blowing my own trumpet. I prefer people I am serving to judge me.

So, to answer your question, I will only refer to the things my people have said that I have done which they are happy with.

You see, we have been on campaign tour of the various communities in my federal constituency ahead of this Saturday Local government council elections in our state. My constituency is made up of two local governments: Nsukka and Igbo-Eze South local government areas. So, we have been going round all the wards in the two local governments, campaigning for votes for our Chairmanship and Councillorship candidates. We have a total of 36 ward in the two Local governments.

And from what the people are saying about me at the campaign rallies, I am convinced that my constituents are happy with my performances so far.

Some of them eulogised me for the Solar-powered street lighting facilities we are installing in their communities, water boreholes we are drilling for them,  fertilizers being distributed to them. Some also expressed appreciation that I distributed bags of rice to them during last Christmas. They acknowledged that some youths have gotten jobs through me, etc. Some of them made it clear that unlike in the past when those they elected into the National Assembly would turn their backs at them immediately after winning their elections, that I have been maintaining close relationship with them. So, I feel very glad hearing such testimonies.

 Q . What are your expectations in the Saturday 21 September Local Government Council polls. Do you think your Labour Party candidates will win the two Local Governments in your federal constituency.

 A . It is just obvious that my party, Labour Party will win the elections landslide in the two council areas.

Beyond Enugu state, Enugu North Senatorial district is known even nationwide as the strongest stronghold of the Labour Party.

And any unbiased assessment will surely show that the two local government areas that make up my federal constituency are the headquarters of the Labour Party.

Labour Party recorded its highest votes in the presidential election in the two local governments compared to the vote it got in any other federal constituency in the country in the 2023 general election.

Again, in the election, Labour Party won all the legislative Assembly elections in the federal constituency, including the House of Representatives position which I am the one occupying today by the grace of God, and, also the three state Assembly constituencies of Nsukka West and Nsukka East in Nsukka East in Nsukka Local Government, as well as, Igbo-Eze South constituency of Igbo-Eze South Local Government. Also, the Senator representing Enugu North Senatorial zone, Chief Okey Ezea under Labour Party banner hails from Igbo-Eze South. During our campaign tour of all the 36 wards in the two local governments, the turnout of supporters was simply massive.

The most interesting thing is that the people’s support to our party is organic. None of them was given any money to come to our campaign rallies. They willingly left whatever they were doing to come to pledge their solidarity to our party and candidates.Some of them, especially the youth even warned that they were ready to resist any attempt to rig the elections against our party candidates with the last pint of their blood. They warned the officials of the Enugu state Independent Electoral Commission to come prepared to conduct the council elections in a free, fair and transparent manner, otherwise, they should get ready for their resistance.

 Q . How confident are you that the Peoples Democratic Party government in the state including the governor, Dr. Peter Mbah will not manipulate the election in favour of the candidates of their party.

 A . Well, I can’t rule out such plans. But , if I were the Governor, His Excellency, Dr. Peter Mbah, I will allow the council elections to be conducted free, fair and transparent.

Let the people of the various local governments choose who they want irrespective of political party platforms. Allowing people to select their leaders gives room for a more trusted candidates who will perform to emerge. And that will translate to having leaders who will perform more creditably at that grassroots level. If the local governments experience massive transformation under his regime as Governor of the state, the credit also goes to him. After all, those who will emerge as Chairmen and Councillors in the respective local governments are persons from the local governments. Even if he manipulates the outcome to impose people, are they his blood brothers? Again, I am sure that none of those who will emerge either as Chairmen or Councillors will have the capacity to challenge him as candidates during his  Governorship re-election bid.  So, I expect that he will allow the council elections to be free from any manipulations so that democracy will begin to thrive in our grassroots level.

 Q . Your party stakeholders have been criticising the state government over the demolition of Ogige Nsukka Market and construction of motor park terminal and petrol station in the place. Does it mean that your party is against urban renewal programme.

 A . No. We are not at all. In fact, as you may know  the philosophy of our party is for emergence of a New Nigeria. Which is a call for renewal of our political culture, environment and economy. So, we can’t be against urban or rural renewal programme.

However, what we are saying is that the manner the state government demolished Ogige Nsukka Market was counter-productive.

It shouldn’t have been done in a manner that has thrown virtually all the traders, especially those of them with less financial strength out of business. Report we are getting now is that some of them have died as a result of frustration. Several of those still surviving have not gone back to their businesses.

The information we are getting also showed that the Aku Road Market the state government said they should relocate to is not adequate enough to contain those displaced at the demolished market.

We also hear that the cost of getting stores in the Aku Road Market is so high that those who even managed to get store allocations paid through their noses. They said that for one to get a shop space, he or she will pay as much as One Million Naira and annual levy of N120,000.

In any case, what we in Labour Party are saying is that the Peoples Democratic Party and Enugu state governor, His Excellency Dr. Peter Mbah should have done was to  first and foremost get alternative land, built a more modern market that would contain the traders in the Market, give them sufficient time to relocate to the new market before carrying out the demolition. Also, the Government should not have fixed the cost of allocating the shops at such exorbitant rates.

 Q . We also hear that members of your party criticised the state government taxation policy and levies being collected from markets and other business operators. Does it mean that Labour Party administration will introduce tax-free regime in the Local Government system if elected?

 A . No. No patriotic citizen will be opposed to payment of taxes and levies by business operators. In fact, payment of tax is a civic responsibility any patriotic citizen must contribute to the government.

Money realised from taxation and levies being collected from business owners form part of the revenue with which the government discharges it obligations to the citizenry in terms of providing basic infrastructure like tarred road, electricity, healthcare, pipe-born water facilities, funding of education like building schools, markets, motor-parks, etc. And even catering for the people’s welfare.

Our grouse with the government in the state is that the taxes and levies being collected are very high.

We hear for instance, that enament tax for bungalows in cities increased from N30,000 per annum to N150,000; high-rise building in high density areas jacked up from N50,000 to N300,000; in low density areas, it increased from N80,000 to N400,000, and, land instrument/ registration increased from N70,000 to N300,000. Private school tax was raised from N30,000 to N200,000.

Now all shop owners are paying annual levy of N21,000 no matter wherever you are in any part of the state. Daily levy for commercial bus drivers increased from N200 to N2,000; that of Keke riders increased from N100 to N450. Tax for small business premises increased to N25,000; medium business premises N56,000, and, malls pay N200,000.

So, our position is that government should reduce all these downwards.