What informed your decision to contest for the House of Representatives?
I am going to the House of Representatives to change Okigwe North for good; that informed my coming for the race. I want to make an impact. I want to change the system.
You are new in politics; do you what it takes to win the election?
There is no aspirant in Okigwe North that has the capacity as much as l do. I have all that is needed to go to the hallowed Chamber of the National Assembly. I know that the people in my constituency people are very enlightened; they know the quality they need. They need a son who understands what they want and need, and then be able to represent them well. They need a son of theirs who will go out and make sure that Okigwe attract the right privileges due to them and who will be able to position them in the scheme of things in Nigeria.
It is said that the nation’s political terrain is murky; do you possess the courage to swim therein?
l am not new in politics, but you can say I am contesting for the first time. I understand the system. I understand the policy-making procedure and system therein. Making a lot of policies internationally, I have worked in over 15 countries of the world. I am not new. I know the policy system of almost all the African countries. And l have travelled to all of them on policy-making. So I am not new.
We are talking about community service; you have not done anything in Okigwe North?
I am an Okigwe son. I schooled in Okigwe. I was born in Okigwe. I have people who are under my scholarship today in Okigwe; I have them in all the Anglican seminaries in Okigwe. I have instituted an award for all the students; you can go to Okigwe and find out. The only thing is that a lot of people like noise making. I don’t make a noise. I believe in quality service. I don’t like talking too much about issues because those who come out and blow their trumpets all over, they are nothing. The way I was brought up; the way I was trained, l don’t believe in talking too much. I believe rather in action.
What are you offerings to the people?
Bright Nwachukwu will initiate a Graduate Youth Empowerment Scheme called G-YES. I will create department in my office that will take statistics of unemployed graduates within the constituency, and ensure that three persons per ward are given gainful employment. Some of them could be given loans to establish their own businesses. This department will also ensure that the existing scholarship in lsiala Mbano is extended to other two local government areas, namely: Okigwe and Onuimo. I will run a representative, all-inclusive and accessible constituency office. The office will have online facility, that is to say that distance will not be a barrier to any constituent that wishes to contribute to the Nigerian governance, as it affects Okigwe North Federal Constituency. In Imo State, Okigwe zone is the most marginalised in terms of development projects. For instance, appointments into Federal Boards and Parastatals are lopsided. Since the creation of Imo State, it is very disheartening to note that no Okigwe North indegene has been appointed into any ministerial position. This imbalance needs to be corrected, and l have promised to ensure that more Okigwe North sons and daughters are appointed into boards. I would also work tirelessly to ensure that a minister is appointed from Okigwe North. Again, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are flourishing in other states of the federation because indigenes of those areas have access to the Federal Government SME funding. I will ensure that Okigwe indigenes access such funds from the Federal Government. Presently, Okigwe has little of international investment. It is my desire and aspiration to attract international investments into Okigwe. Such investors will invest in agricultural and we will also focus industrial development. Through this, jobs and wealth will be created for our youths. Rural to urban migration will reduce. Already, discussions are ongoing about this. Also I would assist in passing Bills that will position Okigwe to a vantage position in the comity of other zone will be under taken and sponsored at the House of Representative. Federal presence to Okigwe has been minimal since 1999. I believe that more efforts should be made to ensure that Federal Government projects are sited in Okigwe North. Such projects as agro-allied projects, electrification of our hinterlands, siting of industries and building of roads through Federal Government assisted programmes will help the people of Okigwe North.
What is your advice to Okigwe people and politicians?
Okigwe people should be patient. Whatever that has been denied them in the past, they will get this time. I don’t believe in noise-making, but l believe in getting what we need. And l want to assure Okigwe people just that. Like l have always said, Okigwe people have been delivered. We can now see light at the end of the tunnel. So Okigwe people should relax, God is coming to rescue them. And to my fellow politicians, l want to tell them that politics is not a business that anybody can just venture into. Politicians should stop making politics to look as if it is a dirty game. It is not dirty. It’s a game of leadership. People should play it with a spirit of sportsmanship.
