Our Personality of the week is Hon. Festus Chukwuyem Okoh (a.k.a
Chuky Dandy), Member Representing Ika South Constituency in the State
House of Assembly. He is the PDP flag bearer for the March 6 election.
Hon. Chuky Dandy has in this all important interview revealed that one
of the reasons he want to go back for a second tenure in the State House
of Assembly is to ensure that Ika Nation is included in DESOPADEC as
one of the oil producing communities in the country.
Enjoy reading.
Good day sir, may we know you?
I am Hon. Festus ChukwuyemOkoh (a.k.aChuky Dandy), Member
Representing Ika South Constituency in the State House of Assembly, also
Chairman, Committee of Commerce and Industry.
My father, Mr. A. E.Okoh was from Ogbeisongban, while my mother, Mrs,
Agnes Okoh was from Ogbemudein. Both are late. My father died in 1999,
and my mother died in 2013. They were not too rich, neither were they
poor. They were able to take good care of us and see us through school
before they died.
Did the quest for riches not push you into crime?
Not at all. My parents never taught me that. As a child growing up, I
had to learn from my parents. They were never assuming. They were never
anxious for wealth. They lived for name and not fame. I had no option
other than to do same. One thing they also taught me was that hardwork
pays. So, all that I have today are a result of hardwork. What most
people fail to understand is that money comes when you do the right
thing with determination. So, all those who look for short cuts to make
money are only lazy and empty of sound ideas. They also fail to
understand, or have chosen to ignore, the fact that ill-gotten wealth
comes with a prize, which is very severe.
THE SINS OF OUR GOVERNOR By Danphidel Akpenyi
Are you married?
Yes, I am married with four kids. My wife’s name is Mrs. Faith Okoh, and we have known ourselves for over thirty-one years now.
Where is your family, sir?
My family is in Ireland. My children were all born and brought up there. I have been living there for about 20 years now.
What is your religion?
I am a Christian, a member of the Catholic faith
What were your growing up days like?
My growing up days were perfectly okay. I was born into the family of
A E Okoh from Ogbeisongban, Ime-Obi, Agbor. My father worked with
customary court and my mother was a trader. I attended Noseri Primary
School, thereafter I went to Ika Grammar School. After my secondary
school days, I proceeded to Delta State University, Abraka, where I
graduated with B.Sc in Economics. I did my Youth Service in 1999, before
I travelled out of the country.
When did you return to Nigeria?
I came back in 2009 when I was made Board Member, Federal Mill and
Steel. Then, I contested for House of Representatives in 2011 under the
DPP. Thereafter, I was made Special Assistant to Ike Ekweremadu, the
Deputy Senate President. I resigned in 2014 and contested for the House
of Assembly as Member representing Ika South Constituency. I won the
election and that is the position I am occupying till date.
After the primaries for this present election, I emerged the flag
bearer of the People’s Democratic Party to go to the House the second
time.
How long have you been in politics sir?
Well, I was in politics even before I travelled out of the country, and when I came back, I started from where I stopped.
Are you into other things aside politics?
I have Bureau De Change in Dublin, Ireland, I also have African shop
there. Here in Nigeria, I have bureau de change as well, and have my
business in Lagos.
What do you have to say about the politics in Ika land today?
The politics in Ika land is like what we see in other places. The
only difference we have here is that we are not united and we pray that
one day the unity we pray for will come, and the love we yearn for will
also come.
Does this division in Ika politics have anything to do with the age long rivalry?
Whether we like it or not, as long as the tongue and the teeth live
together in the same mouth, they will have issues. Even in our families,
siblings from the same parents still have issues. I know that people
will be saying that the people of Ika North East are oppressing us. To
me, I do not see it that way, because if you make me the governor of
this state today, I will do more for my village, Ogbeisongban and my
people, than other places in Ika. That does not mean that I do not see
others as my people as well. There is always a parable in my place that
every individual places wrapper in between his or her own laps.
I, for one, am not a party to the division between Ika North East and
Ika South. I schooled in Ika Grammar School in Ika North East, and most
of my friends are from Ika North East. The only thing I have discovered
is that our people have to learn from them, because the kind of
politics they play in Ika North East is not the same with what we see
here in Ika South. Take for instance when someone from Ika North East is
occupying a key position, he will have an Ika North East person as his
PA, who will in turn have another person working wiht him. By so doing,
they groom themselves in the game. But, here, instead of having such, we
have those who struggle to pull their own people down. The moment
someone is in a position, others start fighting to bring him down, this
is the politics of bitterness.
So, you find out that we are not growing. We should support whoever
that is there, no matter who he or she is, provided he or she is our
own. Even if you do not like the person, you should put personal hatred
and issues aside, learn to understand that it is not just about the
person, it is all about the system, let us grow a system where all of us
will benefit. If the people of Ika North East had not supported the
governor of Delta State all through, he would not have grown to be the
governor that he is today. He grew from Local Government Secretary to
Local Government Chairman, to commissioner, to Secretary to State
Government, to senate, and then to governor. This is the system I am
talking about. They allowed him to grow. So, our people should allow our
own to grow also.
Are you practicing such sir?
Yes, I have some young ones in politics who are working with me, that I am bringing up to know and play the game.
In line with this sir, what do you have to say about
supporting Nwokolo for a third tenure in office, bearing in mind that
the people of Ika South are saying that the governor once promised them
that this would be their turn?
Well, if such promise was made, I was not there when it was made, so I
would not be wrong if I say that I do not know anything about the
promise, because I cannot speak about what I did not witness. But then,
what I have to say here is that first, if my party has brought out
someone for a position, as a loyal party member, I have to support that
person, because he went for primaries and won.
So, if we are saying that it is the turn of Ika South and nobody from
Ika South emerges as the flag bearer of my party, I will have to follow
the candidate of my party, I do not know how other political parties
run theirs.
Second, as regards the idea of this third tenure, it is important we
know that the older in the House, the better. A longer stay in the House
attracts a lot of advantages and benefits which if well utilized, will
better the lives of the constituents.
Third, if I should speak for the benefit of my people, I would say,
they should allow Nwokolo to do another four years instead of allowing a
new person from Ika North East to go there and do eight years. Here is
the logic; if Nwokolo goes again this third tenure, next time, we from
Ika South will say that we want to go. But, if another person goes, and
still from Ika North East, that person will look for a second tenure,
thereby truncating the chances of Ika South going there anytime soon.
Sir, the strongest opposition so far in one of his
statements said he will be going for just one tenure, and then let the
people of Ika South have their turn. What is your take on that?
It is a fairy tale. Oshiomole said same when he was campaigning for
governorship in Edo state the first time, and then after his first
tenure, he went for a second. Also, when Buhari was campaigning in 2015,
he made a similar statement. But today, he is fighting for a second
tenure. So, it is just a campaign strategy.
Sir, how have you fared with your people as their Representative in the State House?
Well, I cannot blow my trumpet, but if you see the things on ground,
you will know that I have tried as a first timer in the House, I have
tried as a person, and I have tried as Member representing Ika South
Constituency. My duty primarily is to make laws, lobby, and perform
oversight functions. In terms of lawmaking, I have co-sponsored fifteen
bills in the house, including Delta State Centre for Rural and Social
Development Studies Bill, Delta State Cancer Control Agency Bill, Delta
State Social Protection for Persons Living with Disabilities Bill, Delta
State Consumer Right and Control Agency Bill, Delta State Equipment
Leasing Regulation Bill, Delta State Administration of Criminal Justice
Law Bill amongst others.
I have done my oversight function very well in the sense that there
are no abandoned projects in Ika South because when any project comes
this way, I go and monitor the work and ensure it is done according to
specification. Also, I have moved four motions. Three scaled through but
one did not. That one was to include Ika nation in DESOPADEC. That one
failed because they asked on which quantum are they going to be giving
derivation to the people of Ika nation? Our pipelines have not been
linked to Forcados, but I know that once our pipelines are linked to
Forcados and our quantum starts reading, we are going to be benefitting,
because I will see to that if I go back to the House after the
election.
Can you mention some of the projects?
We have constructed some roads in Ika South. For example, Oza-Nogogo
road, the road from Dein palace to Oza-Nogogo, Orikeze, Odion street,
Odi street, Igumbor, Ewere close, and Ugbewi street. All these ones I
have mentioned are in Ime-Obi. Also, we have Olihere Street, which is
under construction; we have done Charles Street, Upper Imudia, Whyte
Street, and Emefiele. These are all roads done in my time. In Abavo, we
have done Central Hospital road, Ring road, and others. I can name about
twenty five roads done in my time, my first time in the House. This I
must say is a very big development to my people. It had not been like
this before in my constituency.
I saw you giving money to financially stranded patients
at Central Hospital Agbor, in one of your oversight functions. Is this
part of your job as a Member of the State House of Assembly?
No, it is not. I do that because God has blessed me financially, and
there is no better way to use riches other than reaching out to those in
need. There lies the essence and pleasure of having money. The other
time I was at the hospital for an oversight function, I saw a boy that
was rushed in, short of blood and in a critical condition. His mother
who brought him could not pay the money required for treatment and for
the purchase of blood. So, I quickly came in to save the poor boy’s
life. I thank God I was at the hospital that particular day and time, if
not, the poor boy would have lost his life. Today, he has fully
recovered and he was at my house with his mother few days back to thank
me. I give God the praise for making me a blessing to that family, and
to many others He has been using me to reach out to.
How are you preparing for February election?
Well, I have done my homework and I have equally done my campaign, I
commit the rest into God’s hands, because I know that it is God that
gives power. I know that by His grace, I will emerge the winner.
Who among your opponents is a threat to you sir?
There is no particular opponent I see as a treat. Anyone who comes
out to vie for any political position, comes with the mind of emerging
as the winner. With God on my side, I will defeat them all.
Being a friend to Fada Ibude, how does his vying for the same position with you affect your relationship?
Fada Ibude has been my childhood friend. His running for the same
position I am vying for does not matter much to me. It is only a contest
and whoever wins should give thanks to God.
Those in your party who you defeated in the primaries, are they supporting you now that they have lost out?
Yes, they are. After the primaries, I went to meet them the following
day; going from one house to the other, to let them know that we are
not fighting, neither are we enemies. We are playing politics, and it is
only a contest where only one person must emerge the winner. They are
my friends, just like the people contesting with me in other parties.
What is your take on the not too young to run campaign?
It would be nice seeing young people take over the mantle of leadership of this great nation. I am also an advocate of that.
What do you have to say about the other candidates your party is bringing out for February election?
Atiku is a man that I like personally no matter the criticism. He is a
man that has established so many businesses in Nigeria, whereas others
do take theirs outside the country. By that alone, he is a nice person.
People have been accusing him of one fraud or the other, yet no one has
come out to prove it. It is only the court that can proof things beyond
reasonable doubt.
Talking about the governorship candidate, Okowa is more qualified, he
is tested and trusted. I know that even the blind and the deaf will
tell you that Okowa is preferable to his opponents.
For the senatorial seat, Nwaboshi is more qualified. He has gone
there the first time and has done his bit. We must understand that he is
there as an opposition, and there is a limit to what he can do.
As for Victor Nwokolo, he has done a lot of things which I have seen,
such as water projects, restructuring schools, and roads which he has
influenced. Again, like I said, since voting another Ika North East
person will make the people of Ika South to wait for another eight
years, it is wise we all cast our votes for Nwokolo.
Elekeokwuri is a colleague in the House. Definitely, I want two of us
to go back and complete the work we have started. We have been pushing
for Ika to be included in DESOPADEC. There is a law in the House which
disallows a Member of the House from continuing with a project another
Member left half way. So, if you start a project, you must finish it. If
not, someone who is not going back could ask the Member coming in from
his constituency to push a bill which he started. This is not allowed.
The moment you are out, your halfway bill will die a natural death. So,
if the only thing I can achieve when I go back is to ensure Ika is added
in DESOPADEC, I will be fulfilled, because Ika people will enjoy it for
life.
How do you see Ika politics in ten years to come?
If Ika people will work together, and bring in the young ones to the game, our politics will be perfect.
How has your wife and family been of support to you?
My wife has been so supportive, my children also. If they did not support this course, I would not be here in the first place.
Your parting words sir
The future of Ika rests on the shoulders of the youths. Therefore,
they have to tread wisely and be more concerned about the future instead
of living for the day. Thank you.
Thank you sir
