Take a fresh look at your lifestyle.

I have designed a 13-point agenda I will present to Anambra people when I flag off my campaign ~ Moghalu

22

Get real time updates directly on you device, subscribe now.

George Moghalu, one of the governorship aspirant under the All Progressives Congress in the forthcoming Anambra State gubernatorial election in this interview talks about his plans for the State in case he wins the election come November 6.

 

It’s now or never: what have you put on ground to ensure you get it this time?

Yes. That’s true. I have really come a long way in my desire to serve our people as governor. And to that I thank God Almighty for granting me health, strength and sound mind to think in that direction. It’s not actually about what I have put on ground; it’s about the people of Anambra state. Every election as we all know has two stages-the primaries and the other is the main election.

So the emphasis now is on talking to our party members for them to place their confidence in me. It’s only after successfully concluding the issue of primary and becoming the candidate that i can move my preparations up to the other level that needs to get the entire state involved in the process of contesting in the election. We are indeed doing our best in reaching out and consulting as much as possible. We are talking to friends, party members and colleagues. We are also continuously talking to God ceaselessly to be by our side. As I often say, all power belongs to God and He gives to whom he pleases at His own time.

Am sure you won’t be surprised to learn that we are already looking beyond the election, especially when your comments would convince more citizens into saying, this is the man for the job. What are the first three things that would engage your attention as the new governor of Anambra, come March 2022?

I want to thank you for seeing me already as the in-coming governor. It means that you have wished me to win the party primary. I also humbly request for your prayers. Like I say at different opportunities where questions about the main election come up, as someone who is desirous of running for the governor of the state, I have designed a 13-point agenda that I will present to Anambra people when I flag off my campaign. But the very critical issue there is the fact that our people have lost confidence in government. Our people don’t trust government anymore. They don’t believe Government. They don’t see the sincerity in government. So, this glaring loss of confidence is a primary concern. It’s something that requires urgent attention. Therefore if I win the nomination today, that will be a major consideration for me.

Another key issue is Security which we all know is the primary responsibility of government. Because we can only talk about economic prosperity in a secure environment. So that is key in governance.

Then we consider the issue of infrastructure. Because for a stable and thriving economy there must be a functional, standard infrastructure base that cut across.

Since you asked or three points I have to limit myself to this three.

At the last count, the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the Labour Party(LP) and others have lined up about thirty very qualified, able and capable aspirants. What is your magic wand to enable you overcome these array of talents?

This large turnout of these credible aspirants clearly shows that democracy is working in our state jostling to lead the state. It goes also to show that Anambra has an abundance of human capital that can be leveraged upon to build a stable economy. You must also understand that in determining who becomes the governor the issue of consistency, the issue of character, the issue of courage, the issue of capacity, integrity, and experience must be considered. Yes you can be qualified because of education, age, and the money to throw around; but when you don’t have the experience, you don’t have it! It is finished. And Anambra state at this critical stage cannot afford to gamble with someone who is going to learn on the job. So we must void such risk. I have to appreciate that the quality of aspirants we have today is quite commendable, which goes to show that democracy is strong here. But integrity, character, consistency and experience must be considered before who will be the next governor will emerge.

Are you in anyway worried about this avalanche of aspirants?

No. It actually makes the contest very keen and interesting. Because it gives one opportunity to work very hard. But we must all bear in mind that it’s not a war. After all we all sons and daughters of the state seeking to serve our people and the choice of who it’s going to be rests with the people, the electorate.

It’s interesting to observe that most aspirants have through one form of scheme or another been touching the lives of the citizens. Such includes scholarship scheme, education foundation and so on.

I have a foundation -Zimuzo Development Foundation, that has been operating for about twenty years before getting it formally registered. We have done quite a lot. The name Zimuzo, translated means ‘show me the way’. The Foundation has touched and transformed a lot of lives. We have paid school fees for indigent students, we have given scholarships; we have paid hospital bills, and released people from prisons. We have also kept widows on salary. We have built and continue to build houses for widows and the less privileged.

For me, it’s a platform to serve and appreciate God because He has done so many good things for me. Things that I do not deserve. God has really been merciful to me. So for me the foundation is a means of service to humanity. It’s not politics. This is because I set up the foundation long before I joined politics.

I have continued to nurture it and friends have been supportive and it keeps growing by each day. And as we get resources we keep spending, because I strongly believe that if there is any calling I have, it’s to be my brothers’ keeper. And that is what am working towards.

Making it home alive and safe any day today in Nigeria appears to be miraculous. Insecurity has literally become a norm. How can it be tamed, for life to return back to normal?

I am very worried like every other citizen. But sight must not be lost of the level of efforts. Let me use this platform you just provided for me to sympathize, mourn with the families of those who have lost loved ones because a good number of our security personnel have paid the supreme price all in an attempt to protect us -the members of the general society.

So my heart goes out to them, as well as their families. I pray that God Almighty will grant them eternal rest, and to the families they left behind the fortitude to bear the great loss.

Frankly, security is a major challenge because it is only in a secure environment that the economy can grow, that when we can all manifest our potential and capacity. I have continued to point out that in all cases, historically globally every conflict, no matter how intractable always end up on a negotiating table. Therefore why don’t we avoid these killings/deaths, and go straight to the negotiating table since that is where it is expected to end and then deal with it from that perspective.

In my personal view, negotiation is key. And most importantly intelligence gathering is prime. We need to be proactive, not reactive. We must be proactive and have information, security information that places us far ahead. But these security Information is not limited to government. Everybody in this instance is concerned. We are all involved in the security architecture, hence must cultivate a good relationship with the security agencies. We need to see them as friends, as partners and as people who are taking great risks to keep every citizen safe. We must share intelligence so that we can develop our society and curb the menace.

Looking at it also from a long term perspective we must invest in youth empowerment, youth education, skills acquisition. We must as a matter of urgency resolve this issue of what to do with our educational curricula because this emphasis on certificated education and not technical education must be de-emphasized. Consequently it means our curricula must be amended to enable us train our children to become employers and not employees at the end of the day. There’s need to inculcate technical education so that they will have capacity to generate income for themselves.

Then we also look inwards towards agriculture for it provides massive platform for provision of gainful employment. We need to put in resources to boost the sector and make it attractive. I have to commend the federal government for it sustained efforts and emphasis on agriculture, mining (solid mineral sector)and other areas of our economy. Because both areas can create great number of employment, we must take due advantage of that. I do not speak for government but I know the administration has laid emphasis on diversification of our economy. There’s a lot we can do in this area, exploring immediate, short term and long term programs. We need to take proper focus on these areas because it can generate very huge employment, food as well as cash for the citizens.

It’s said that here in Anambra State, for a governorship candidate to emerge from any political party- the lion, the lioness, party hierarchy, Aso Rock and the Church must approve. Is it true? What have you done to assuage them?

Let me be honest with you, for someone to win election in Anambra state smoothly and decently there must be a consensus of the political elite across party lines. Like I have continued telling our party members, in considering who will fly our party’s (APC) flag in the Nov 6,2021 election let us consider the person with capacity to build consensus amongst political elites across party lines. That we must have that at the back of our minds in determining who we choose to fly our flag.

Yes, people may decide to constitute themselves into institutions. It’s expected. It’s obtainable even in civilized economies there people that are considered as political heavyweights who you must talk to. That’s why we are consulting with such persons, running from community to community, local government area to another meeting with those who command influence. I also know that there’s a bit of religious politics in the state.

However, I have always maintained that that should not be a basis to determine who will be our governorship candidate. It’s not in the interest of our state. Because if you talk about religious politics, what about those who have no religion? Are they not part of the system? You cannot exclude them because they are entitled to good governance. So these are things we must take note of.

For me, like people have often asked me who is my godfather? I have always told them that who I have is God in heaven. That my godfather is all the Anambra people who will vote for me in the primary and vote for me also in the main election. They are my godfathers and they are the people am accountable to at the end of the day. But if insist on who my godfather is, I can tell you that I have God Almighty that is in heaven!

There’s this concern about whether the problem of the state is its leadership, the followership or failure to effectively harness the abundant talents/ideas or lack of ideas.

The important thing here is that you cannot give what you don’t have. It’s a fact of life that no one can give what he don’t have. So you must know who is coming on board. Because one thing is to propound theories, whether they work or not is another matter altogether. The driver of the bus determines where the journey is going to end. If you give an unlicensed driver the bus to drive, you cannot rule out the fact that you will have an accident on the way. So the capacity of the individual who is going to lead has lot of role to play. That is the truth about life. Therefore we must be careful about who we are asking to lead us.

The youths believe there’s really no plans for them on ground in the state presently. Consequently they no longer want to be referred as the leaders of tomorrow. They want it now. What’s your programme for them?

That I most unfair for anyone to think of running an administration without making provision for the involvement of the youth. That is sad because the vibrancy that comes with the youths will not be there. You must get them involved. After all there’s a lot of ways to get the youths involved and empower them and get them to be part of the administration. Even to the extent of policy making. What is wrong in getting young men/women being part of the policy making in your administration.

The youths are going to be part of whatever we are going to do from day one. That’s why that even in my campaign structure today you have Moghalu Youth Ambassadors, the GMC, the George Moghalu Youth Movement, etc. These are youth organizations that are all synergizing together to actualize the governorship project. So, at the end of the day will you abandon them? No! There are specific demands they are making in the are of their education, empowerment, employment, skills acquisition and preparing them for leadership as you expect them to take over in no distant future.

So they are part of what we are doing and they will be part of our administration by the grace of God when we win.

Apparently by popular demand Anambra South Senatorial zone would have their wish in running for the governorship seat all alone. What would be the lot of other zones when you eventually wins?

Am running for governor of Anambra state, not for Anambra South. The state has twenty-one councils and three hundred and twenty six electoral wards. That is going to be my primary constituency. So whatever policy I have will be all encompassing. I have to address issues that has to do with the entire state, not a particular section or Senatorial zone.

Onitsha and Nnewi are seats of Trade, Commerce and Industry in the state. How would harness these potentials and others for the development of the entire State?

There’s enormous potentials in Onitsha and other parts of the state when you talk about commerce and industry. And when you talk about agriculture in the state you must look at the North Senatorial zone. It’s important that an administration look at the capacities of each area and how to harness and build them to stabilize your economy.

You have to look inwards because the days of going to Abuja to share money and come and use here is gone. The tea party is over. So one must look inwards. It’s about using our scarce resources optimally. Growing and developing the Anambra state economy. I know strongly; am very convinced about it that Anambra state has the strength and eco base to grow and be a prime state in this country. What we need is to creat the enabling environment for the private sector to grow.

Thank you for mentioning this, because in the days of yore, under the defunct Eastern Nigeria regional government, the Onisha Main Market funded all the financial and developmental needs. But today, with just a fraction of that enclave still remaining as Anambra state we have continued to seek for loans here and there. What’s gone wrong?

It’s a matter of management. The Onitsha market is still there and expanding. It’s about winning the confidence of the people in their government. You must get that confidence, that trust back. People must see the government as their own. If people see that you have their interest at heart, then whatever demand you make they will respond. Then they would be willing to give you the support you need.

High unemployment, youth restiveness and anti social behaviors have characterized our contemporary society, including Anambra state. What’s your plans to radically change things?

It’s part of what I have in my 13-point agenda. I will say that it needs a radical approach to address the issue of youth unemployment, idleness, restiveness, moral decade among others, including the value system. There’s total collapse of our value system. The core things our parents taught us are not the issues in question now. It’s now how much you can get, but how you get the money is immaterial. Before now, when our parents were on stage there are things you cannot do and get away with. You cannot just come with money in rose good old days and your father will accept the money from you. No. He will ask you, ‘where did you get the money?’

In those days even clothes or shoes. If you put on something he didn’t buy for you, he will ask you where you got the money to buy it. How did you buy it? Who gave you the money.

By the time you remember what you are going to go through in taking it home, you will en up not thinking of that. But it’s no more the case now. Today a student can buy a car and drive to his father’s house and the father will be celebrating it. That his son/daughter is very successful. Meanwhile that child is still in the school. So one would ask what success, where is the success for someone who is still in the school and has not graduated. A child without employment or a solid source of income. How do you explain it?

These are some of the challenges and we need a proper orientation. They are some of the things we must address. And at the same time like the saying goes that an idle mind is the devil’s workshop, we must ensure that our youths are gainfully engaged. Both in their schools and out of school. Their are quite a lot of avenues to use to provide employment opportunities for them.

Education has soared to new positive heights, but ICT has continued to be a mere bye-word in our classrooms in the real sense. How do we break into the ranks of Rwanda and co who now deliver medical supplies with drones?

It’s about capacity, it’s about dedication. It’s about pursuing an idea. As for whether you have the talents in the geopolitical zone or in the state, you can take it to the bank. We have abundant talents. It’s about how do we harness them? How do you engage them? How do you grow these talents to make them become something useful important in the nation and the world. Then it comes back to leadership. That’s why I said that no one would give what he don’t have.

Education for life -which involves skills acquisition, learning to become an employer instead of employee or job seeker appear to be lacking, how would you address it?

Yes that’s what I said when I told you that we have to look again t our education curricula o that we can change it from the beginning. There’s need for more emphasis to be on technical education; education that is functional education that has a destination. Having said that, if you look at the educational curricula and look at the immediate environment, if I may ask, what has happened to all the Government Technical Colleges? Where are they? When we were in secondary school I remember we had Government Technical College -Girls Technical Colleges, Boy’s Technical Colleges. These schools were there and students go there, in addition to conventional courses and subjects they learn crafts. At the end of the day they have City and Guilds certificate apart from the conventional educational certificate they would acquire. Most of them were already engaged even while in school. But today if you are talking about someone to do your POP, you will be directed to these Ghanaians, or Togolese. If you are looking for a plumber or one to lay your tiles they will all recommend the Togo boy. They would assure you that he’s very good. So the question is, what happened. It is a question of reversing the unfortunate trend. We must have the courage to tell ourselves the truth. We must have the courage to go back to where we needed amendments and corrections so as to retback to the proper progressive trajectory.

Because unless we do that we will remain in the dark. As I said earlier, the days are gone when we go to share money in Abuja and carry it and come back here. No, the youths have to be engaged for productive need. As for whether we have vibrant youth, I can tell you they are there. Whether they are intelligent and smart; Anambra youths are intelligent and smart. They can defend themselves anywhere. What we need to do is to encourage them, create the enabling environment and provide them a platform.

It has been discovered that most poverty alleviation funds from CBN, FG & donor agencies including the World Bank are serially missed out on by this state. When they get any,it was usually wrongly applied. How do you intend to change the trend?

First of all you must have a correct and proper database. Then put the right people to do the right thing. This is because if you don’t know the number of people you have who require these assistance, the. There is no way you can appropriately disburse the funds. And it must be open and transparent. Nothing hidden.

Speak to Ndi Anambra.

Like I have always told them, let them trust me. I appeal to all, I come with a sincere aim, commitment and dedication to serve. I am someone who is ever conscious of the judgment of history. I want to be remembered for positive reasons. I always said that no one is ever remembered for his material wealth or acquisition. What people are remembered for are their contributions to the society. How they have served humanity.

I say it always that public office is a trust given to you by God Almighty. If you don’t account here, you will account in the world hereafter. It is sure. That’s why I pity fellow politicians who act without deep or consideration

Get real time updates directly on you device, subscribe now.