Emudia Akpoyoma is a graduate of Sociology and a Petroleum Marketer. He is a staunch member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) since 1999. In this interview with Francis Sadhere, Emudia talked about his reasons for running for the Federal House Of Representative to represent Ughelli South/North and Udu Federal Constituency. He also talked about politics in Nigeria. Excerpt:
Please introduce yourself to us
My name is Emudia Akpoyoma from Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State. I am eyeing the House of Representative in Ughelli South/North and Udu Federal Constituencies. I am a graduate of sociology and right now I am a petroleum Marketer. I am married to a beautiful woman who has given four beautiful kids. I have been with PDP since 1999.
Ok. Now tell us, why are you running for the House of Representatives?
I am running for the House of Representatives for some reasons. Since the inception of this political dispensation in 1999, I noticed that this federal constituency has not been properly represented. When I go through the bills and motions been read in the House, I discovered that no motion or bill has risen from this constituency. It has been a dormant representation for the people of my constituency. They are not properly represented and I see this as an opportunity for me to go and give them adequate representation.
What difference are you going to make if you are given the opportunity to go there and represent your people?
We have a lot of companies like the Delta Steel Company that are lying fallow and nothing is being done to revive them. People that are living in the riverside areas are not properly represented because some of these companies are supposed to take a large chunk of youths in these areas from the unemployment market. So I feel that if I am given the opportunity to go there and represent my people, apart from making laws as a legislature, I am also going to make sure some of these companies are revived so that our people will have a sense of belonging in this country. If I go there I am going to originate bills that will affect the lives of our people.
How are you going to achieve all these things that you have said?
The Delta Steel Company has now being sold to a private company but government still has shares there. The Delta Glass Company is owned by the State Government and if I am an active member of that house, I will try and influence government to look into them and try to revive them. The late Senator Pius Ewherido who was representing Delta Central Senatorial District before his demise, rose a motion on the revitalization of DSC and the motion was on until his untimely death. Today it would have been a different ball game if he were alive. But today the issue is dead because he is not alive. So why can’t I move in his track and start from where he stopped.
Why are you confident that you can step in his shoes?
I see so many vibrant legislatures moving motions in the house, and I can remember a legislature from Lagos State, Abike Dabiri, talking vibrantly and moving strong motions in the house. I have seen how she takes up issues that affect her people and Nigerians in general. So why do you think cannot do the same thing? I think there are many factors that are affecting us here which I will bring to the forefront and proffer solutions to.
How would you describe the administration of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta state?
The Delta State Government under the administration of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has done very well especially in the area of transportation which is next to none in the country. Governor Uduaghan has done marvelously well in his three point agenda of peace, human capital development and infrastructural development. There is relative peace in Delta State now. I think the state governor has done very well in governing this state. I will say kudos to him.
You said you have been in politics since 1999, how popular are you among you people?
I am from Ewvreni and my people know me very well. When the late senator was a member of the house, we worked together, and we have been through the nook and cranny of Delta state. So I don’t think there is anyone who has been in the political space since 1999 that don’t know me.
What are some of those things you have done for your constituency before now?
I have never held any political office before now except for being a member of the DBS board in Asaba and the debt recovery committee put together by the Delta state government at one time. For my people in Ewvreni, I have mobilized jobs for one or two of them even outside government. I have given a couple of people jobs brought out by government as am privileged to be with the principal in government. I think I have touched some lives, even outside as a business man
How will you rate the strength of the opposition party in Delta state?
As far as I am concerned there is no opposition party in Delta state.
Why do you say that?
The history is there for you to see and know that there is a track record of what has been happening in Delta state. PDP is the prominent party in Delta state led by President Goodluck Jonathan who has done perfectly well in terms of good road, job creation, the railway sector and the human right section of government. Today you can walk freely, talk freely and do things freely in Nigeria. It is only in this government that you can stand up and say ‘Mr. President, you are crazy’. In other government you cannot get away with that. But Jonathan has showed the qualities of a good gentleman. We would stand by him to support him. PDP has done very well and all we need do is encourage them to move forward. It took America more than 300 years to get it right. I think we should give Goodluck a chance and at the end of the day, the democratic dividend will get to everybody.
What do you think the person in your constituency is not doing right that you hope to change?
The person in my constituency is an elder brother and a gentle man, but I think I will do more than he has been doing if I am given the opportunity. He has been on the seat for some time now, but I think I can do more because I am young and energetic and I can relate more with the youths in my constituency; so far, I think I can do better than what he is doing.
How would you rate the Nigerian politicians in terms of performance?
I will say that things are not going on perfectly well, but we are moving and we are getting it right bit by bit. Some people might just go there to enrich their pocket but I think we are moving. We can now challenge anyone in power that is not doing it right and I think rating the Nigerian politicians is not for me to do. It is for the people to do.
What do you have to say on instances where politicians borrow money to buy forms for political seats?
Well, you do not have to be a billionaire before you contest elections. It is your right. So if your people want you to go for any position and they buy you the form, there’s nothing wrong with it. Like today, some people have come out and have volunteered to buy President Goodluck Jonathan the PDP form. So there is nothing wrong with it. As it is now, anybody that brings himself out to contest for any election and his people are ready to support him, it is not a problem. It is not about money bags, but it is about rendering selfless service to your area or constituency because the man that will give everybody money, owes the people nothing. Do not be surprised that the man they bought a form for, will rule better because he will go there and work for the people.
So you are saying we don’t want money bags politics?
Yes, we should divorce ourselves from it and pray for good representation.
There are a lot of people who have been elected by the electorate but they are not performing well, how do we fix such people? What’s your advice?
If you are not performing well, it’s for the electorate to kick you out. Don’t take money from anybody so that your conscience is satisfied. And if they are not performing well you can exercise your civil right and kick them out. Let the person you feel can do it right come on board.
If you are finally elected, what’s your agenda for the youths?
Every day the NDDC gives out scholarships to students. Other agencies in government also provide employment opportunities and jobs to the people. I think these opportunities have not been exploited by our youths. We have various opportunities coming from various sectors but they have not been exploited.
Now what is your message to the people?
I want my people to vote wisely so that they would have a good representation when the election comes. They should not allow themselves to be stampeded on or weakened by money bags so that they would be properly represented; because if you use money to give out your vote then you cannot hold the man that gave you money responsible.
