Larry Esin took the mantle of People Progressive party (PPA) two years ago, the party is presently facing tough time as its had lost two serving Governors and a Senator. In this interview with our reporter Paul Effiong in Abuja National Head Quarter Office , Hon Larry Esin explained reasons as well as vowed never to dump PPA despites persuasion from home front , he also spoke by internal mechanism to addressing allegation against BOT Chairman chief Orji Uzor Kalu excerpt .
Can you tell us briefly about your self?
My name is Larry Esin, I am the National Chairman of People Progressive Party (PPA) and I am from Oron Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom state.
The founder and the present Board of Trustees(BOT) Chairman Chief orji Uzor Kalu has always been your presidential candidate from your party in all presidential race, will there be different come 2011 elections?
It was not my design; after all I joined the party just two years by October 2009, when I was elected the national chairman in a very free and fair election which was attended by all that matters including INEC officials. I believe this time there could be a difference because many people are already vying for that, so many people will contest along side him.
Do you think anybody can contest and win him?
Yes, I believe somebody could do that in our party.
With the Abia state governor Theodor Orji and the only senator from the party, senator Chukumerije now decamping to other political parties, is there anything the party is doing to reconcile them with the party, may be to enable them come back?
On June 29, I received a letter of resignation from Governor Theodor Orji which he stated that his action is irrevocable, this could mean he has no intention of coming back to the party, since then I have refused to acknowledge that letter because the door is still opened for him to come back to the party, he must decide either to come back to the party he help to nurture and build, he must decide to come back to his house or become a squatter in another house or party. The option is up to him, but I tell you our party is ready and willing to accommodate him if he comes back. we have nothing personal against Theodor Orji and Senator Chukumerije I heard have also cross carpeted to other party but as we are talking now we are yet to receive a letter of his resignation from the party, until that is done and we still have a large heart to accommodate him too if he comes back to his house and his party.
If actually from our investigation they have moved out from the party, they could do so with their followership, wont that have grave effect on your party?
Obviously, if you are conversant with Abia state politics, you could see that Orji Uzor is the one with most followership in the state and even the whole East and of cause south, let us be honest with to our self, I don't think anybody could surpass our BOT chairman when it comes to followership in that state aside from the power of incumbency which Theodor may have within his disposal as a governor with state resources including that of Senator Chukumerije that could match Orji Uzor Kalu. They don't have such caliber of crowd and followership, beside as a political party our concern not whether we are popular with decision we take or not but to deliver democratic dividends to the people of Abia state who voted us into office and we want to fulfill their needs and this is the crux of the matter. That this party decided to speak against the evil of money -bag and in defense for the electorate and their well fair now becomes the sleight that breaks came back. What are we talking about? After receiving a N3billion revenue from the FG aside from the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).If they could generate more money out from the state then, of course you know that Apiarian Market could generates more than N1billion a month to the state government. A state that receives N3billion on monthly basis would spend N1.4billion on waste bill, then pay civil servants N1.4billion.The remaining N1.6billion that is left to the government seems to create uproar and my attention was drawn to the issue, which the governor said he takes N7m for security of the state and that of his officers while other N3million to the people of the state, and only N1million was then left for other projects, remember you would build schools, build roads etc. And that has been the bone of contention.
Tell me was it wrong for me to summon all those concern to a meeting in Abuja? To give them ample opportunity to explain to us how the state funds is being used for the betterment of our people and electorate? The reason for the summon was also for them to sit side by side to enable us proffer solution on how revenue from the FG could be used for the best interest of the people and the state in general. It was because of this they now decided to abrogate and decamped to another political party rather than answer for their misdeed and inaction. When we heard the allegation that our BOT chairman was interfering with the administration of Abia state, and that he was sharing money at random, we wrote him a letter in order to come and explain the allegation placed on him, he came down challenging people with valid proves and evidence to come forward and present them, I tell you nobody was willing to do that even up till now. The allegation was that he handled all the contracts in the state and even masterminded the appointment in the state, but he has explained with solid evidences that since he left office nobody has seen him in government house nor the party house unless he is being invited by the party on issues that involve him directly. Remember too that it was the same question that I posed to Theodor Orji and he refused to answer claiming that he would answer them in future days. While wait till future when people are dying in silence in your state? Was the action of the party wrong when they intervened in such crucial isues which has coursed us two serving governors and a senator? I will say no, because the future would vindicate us at the end.
With the present state of your party now, most people even your members still claimed that your BOT chairman runs the party as his personal property?
It is a normal thing; people claimed that Obasenjo is responsible for all the problems in PDP. It is not true, since I became the National Chairman he has never come here unless when we invite him to come. He came once and that was when I invited him to answer for allegation made against him. Let me tell you that when my letter of invitation was given to him he was upset, just like Theodor Orji and Chukumerije had to call me immediately and said that I should call up the letter which I told him I would not, else I should send my resignation letter tomorrow which he kept quiet and drop the phone. The next morning he send in a letter that he was going to come for the questioning panel.
As a political party, what is your stand on the zoning presidency arrangement?
Zoning presidency arrangement is not the best strategy to govern this country, BOT Chairman of PDP openly condemned it and said there has been no such arrangement in the party. In 1999 many people contested along with president Obasenjo, which includes Maj. Buhari and late Abubakar Rimi etc.Zoning has become a tool for some politicians who are afraid of fair competition, zoning does not produce the best candidates, when I contested for the governorship in AKS, I did not contest because I was an Oron man. In one occasion I told people that it does not matter where you come from and that was why I contested as an Akwabomite irrespective of extraction and region or party affiliation.
Is your party part of the Government of National Unity (GNU) what happen to those you nominated for ministerial appointment?
The Government of National Unity (GNU) is not a statutory right of any political party; it is a cordiality of extended to other political party by the ruling party. It not our right to be in government, having said that we do not have to be in government to be part of the government, from time to time we contribute our quota meaningfully to the growth and development of government and the nation. We had a senator before and now we have several House of Assembly members from different constituencies throughout the country, even last week we added one from Aru-Chukwu federal constituency. We have the opportunity to contribute, and mind you some offices are still empty, and we maybe call to present our candidates.
With all these event in your party now, do you think they would be able to present a formidable team capable of making waves during the 2011 election?
Yes, we believe that the strength of our party lies in the South and south East. I received over 350 GSM in last two days a strong indication that we are still moving on, and most of these people now want to come over in order to occupy one offices or the other. PPA is the party to recon some prominent Nigerians are coming I tell you to join us. When electorate see the party that is responsive to their needs they want to identify with it, and that is why you see some coming into our party and we remain resolute never to betray people confident on us, we shall not join any other political party.
When will you finally declare your intention to occupy number one seat in Akwa Ibom State ?
You know quite well what is happening in our party within this few weeks, and as the National chairman I have to build up this party for election next year throughout the whole Federation. In AKS, I would like to see a governor there, senators there , and many House of Representatives members too. We want all those things, when the time t able is out we shall re-assed all the states to see our strength and choose the strongest candidates who can represent us very well. If it so happen, that I should mantle my state as a governor , I shall make that known to all, we are waiting for the time table first.
Most people in the state know your antecedent and good tract records, but they are worried about your party , would you decamp to merit their vote during 2011?
I will not decamp, I left PDP because of ideological reasons and until those situation changed, I shall never decamp. Even if it's does PDP is not strong and large enough to accommodate everybody in Nigeria, that is why they are breaking collapsing because of the weight of the party, and some people think that it is the party that wins the election for persons, but Nigeria has gone above that, and if my people love me they will follow me to whenever I go. If people love Dr. Jonathan it doesn't matter where ever he goes they will give him tickets if PDP refuses him .
What massage do you have for your members, electorate and Nigerians in general, during the up-coming elections?
My words to electorates and Nigerian is that, power is in your hand not in their hands, (politicians and electoral officers) governance without the support the governed is a true definition of slavery, my question to you is; do you want to be slaved ? Protect your votes for 2011 polls. |
