Why are you in the Villa?
I’m here for two reasons. One is to see Mr. President and second is to join my colleagues, APC governors, for a meeting with Mr. President.
And I just finished a meeting with Mr. President. And the object of my meeting with Mr. President is about his official visit to Ebonyi State to commission a lot of completed projects. And we have agreed that he is going to come by April.
We have quite a lot of projects in Ebonyi State. We have the King David Medical University. We have over 2,000 completed roads built with concrete. We have the biggest mall you can ever imagine in West Africa built in Ebonyi State. We have one of the wonders of this nation and that is, President Buhari large tunnel flyover bridge, with fountain on top. We have the international market. We have the industrial cluster.
Is your presidential ambition dead or alive because there is a rumour that you’re considering dropping the idea?
It could be just your own imagination because there is no such thing. You can see my supporters everywhere, you can see my consultation. I even consulted those who are also aspiring. And that shows you how committed I am to this course and I think it’s God’s project. So, there is no such thing. Whatever is God’s project no such consideration will come to such project.
Are you worried by any chance about the court sacking you from Ebonyi State government house?
Do I look worried? You see, God has plans for everything. And I think that God allowed one court to give judgement that I go nowhere, allowed another court to say, because we defected, and the votes belong to the party.
I’m not worried because the highest court has said that votes belong to the candidates.
And I want to thank the PDP and even the man that boasted that he did that hatchet job. If the people that crucify Christ knew that it will bring salvation to the whole world, they wouldn’t have done that. So, the hatchet man that boasted is likens to Judas Iscariot. And so I have no worry because the Constitution is clear. I have confidence in the judiciary and so you can see I have added some weight in these few days and looking more handsome.
You are making reference to Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers who made that boastful statement. What is the issue between him and yourself?
Probably the difference between us will be our faith. I serve the living God and probably a lot of alcohol. I don’t drink. So those are the differences between us. Otherwise he remains my friend and my brother. I have nothing against him.
What is the current security situation in Ebonyi State?
The security situation is politically-induced. But we have risen to the challenges. And I can say that the Commissioner of Police is a gift to Ebonyi State, despite all the blackmail of opposition. We have conquered insecurity to over 95%. So, I think we are good in Ebonyi State in terms of security.
The Ebubeagu we inaugurated are doing fantastic work. And that is what the opposition are afraid of. But funnily enough, Ebubeagu was once called the Neighbourhood Watch; it is a local vigilante. The PDP is afraid that their members wouldn’t be allowed to commit violence in Ebonyi State. So that’s why they are doing everything fighting and over 15 cases are brought to the Federal High Court.
The cases are given to two judges. Why should over 15 cases of Ebonyi State be given to two judges. So, we are watching them. They can do all that they can do in Abuja, but they can never try it in Ebonyi State, no matter who they are, including the man that said he was behind our trouble. He will give us trouble from outside Ebonyi, but he cannot stroll into Ebonyi to cause crisis. I will show him that I’m a governor with a difference.
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Who is the man?
You should be the one telling me; you heard him (Wike) on television boasting that he is behind our problem; a mere man that depends on the breath of God. I pity illiteracy. It’s a shame. You are boosting to remove another governor? What qualifies you just because you’re packing money that is public fund. Not intellectual material, but by just packing money from public funds and you are boasting about it. Otherwise, who are you? I became a billionaire at the age of 25. I’ve worked all my life and I have asked him (Wike) to go for public debates.
I do not commission 3.4-kilometre road, I commission 35-kilometre roads. I commissioned twin flyovers running to one kilometre. I commission mega projects with little resources. So, if he says he has done well and he is Mr this or that let him come for public debate with me. Let’s start with our childhood. So I’m not disturbed.
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