Interview

SALARY NON-PAYMENT: Delta Govt Trying to Loot Like Before --- Chief Esigie

Chief Lucky. J. Esigie is the newly appointed leader of the All Progressives' Congress (APC) in the Isoko Ethnic Nationality.

In this recent interview with the publisher and Elo Edremoda, he speaks on the conflicts within the party in Isoko and Delta state, the fate of the Buhari government, the current economic condition as it affects Nigerians as well as, the future of the party come 2019 elections

Why do you think you were appointed leader of the APC in Isoko?

I may not know why they made me leader, but I believe that it was the wish of the people and God's intervention. I did not ask for it nor did I compete for it. Maybe they looked at my antecedents and felt I deserve the position.

Now that you are leader of APC in Isoko, what are your plans towards tackling the crisis rocking the party in your area?

We have already started. From the day our leadership position was unveiled, we went into action immediately, inviting all the factions to come for an emergency meeting. We have been trying to reconcile all the factions so that we can bring peace to Isoko APC. We are already seeing results and are forging ahead. In a very short time all issues that affect the APC in Isoko will be a thing of the past. By God's grace, the legacy of our leader, late Senator F. S. Okpozo, who has a been a mentor will continue to linger on and bring peace to Isoko people.

The state is also having leadership problems; don't you think this may affect your ongoing peace negotiations?

It has been resolved already that the leaders of the present executive will be there for the next 90 days so that all issues concerning the party at the state level are resolved. The minister of State for petroleum, Dr. Kachikwu has asked for the withdrawal of all cases from courts, apologies to those offended and official publications of apology to those that had libel cases. The executive has been asked to try to reconcile all areas offended within their individual local governments. 

When all these are done within the scope of 90 days, a new congress will be called. So the issues are already being settled. We don't see that there is a problem in the state any longer. And that is what Isoko is already doing. We are always taking the forefront.

All things being equal, the Local Government elections will hold next year. What are the chances of the APC in the Isoko LGAs?

The moment we finish all reconciliations, we can now address those issues. Let us get to the bridge, we will cross it. 

At the federal level, people are losing faith for the Buhari-led administration. What is your position on this?

Nigerians always want to leave the substance of issues and begin to chase shadows. The People's Democratic Party (PDP) government up till 2015 destroyed the economy of this nation and everyone knows that. We are trying to repair and for anything that is destroyed, repairing is difficult. We should see it from that angle. 

As you can see, there has been a lot of improvement, going by what happened in 2015 when we took over government till date. Let us be sincere, salaries are being paid now. Federal government pays all salaries. It is some state government like your Delta state who are refusing to pay local government workers and trying to loot like they have been looting before. But states under APC, go find out, they are not owing salaries. That is an improvement with what the federal government is gunning for, you will find that by 2018, what we are experiencing will be a thing of the past. You can't plant your yam today and harvest that same day. We are building up, we have started planting and by the time we start harvesting, you will see that this government has come to stay.

I do not believe you also, when you say people are losing faith. Yes, people are bound to complain but not lose faith. They are complaining to show their pain, but at the same time, they are looking forward to improvement. To me, there is an improvement and this government, with the opportunities we have now, can change things before the next election.


What is your position on comments that Vice President Yemi Osibanjo is a better president?

President Buhari, VP Osibanjo, it is one ticket. The agenda of the one ticket is still on and that is what Professor Osibanjo is doing. He is not digressing from what the ticket is about. He is continuing to build on it. So whether Buhari or Osibanjo, it is APC's performance, not the individual performance.

Do you see APC winning Delta state in 2019?

If you ask me that question, I will say the slogan in the party - APC, change! APC, takeover! No matter what our differences, which we have got on the drawing table now, are, the change in 2019 is an APC government in Osadebe's House.

What is your advice to the APC members in Isoko?

They should try come together and reconcile all their differences. This time, we have an opportunity and we can actually win elections in Isoko. We expect to have a stronger party than what we met.

What is your general advice to the people of Isoko and Nigerians at large?

APC has come to stay. I want them, Isoko People and Nigerians, to support the party.

Chief Lucky Esigie Isoko APC leader