…. *I have seen integrity, reputation, sincerity in Sanwo-Olu, he is trusted*
*Dr. Festus Uchenna is currently the global President of G-50, a platform set up as a mechanism to unify the different factions of Ndigbo particularly in Lagos state to speak with one voice. As an illustrious son of Igbo, he understands the enormity of challenges that comes with this initiative and has demonstrated the capacity to achieve the desired result.
Beyond unifying Ndigbo in Lagos, the G-50 is also galvanizing support for Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term bid.
Dr. Uchenna was one of the personalities that graced the 10th year anniversary of Igbo Market Women, Lagos which held at the Old Schools hall, National Stadium, Surulere. The event was chaired by the president of the group, Hon. Nelly Okafor Ekwueme.
The Unique Model magazine publisher, Felix Mbata engaged Dr. Uchenna in a chat to know his mission and what inspired him.
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Excerpts:
*For those who do not know who you are, can we meet you sir?*
My name is Dr. Festus Uchenna, I am the global president of the G-50.
*Can you tell us your mission here?*
I came from Abuja to this place because I was invited to come and grace this occasion and I have been in talk with the president of Igbo Market Women, Hon. Nelly Okafor Ekwueme, the organization is part of G-50. G-50 comprises all the organizations that have to do with Igbos in Lagos. So about 50 organisations came together to form the G-50. We call it ‘Ofu obi ndi Igbo, which means, one mind of Igbo people, yes for re-election of Babajide Sanwo – Olu.
*So, what are you taking away from this gathering here today* ?
I saw the excitement in the women, I saw the unity in them, I saw the colours and the uniforms, I saw structure that is organized from the market women. Sometimes, you think that the market women are the illiterate, but seeing what I saw today that means they are highly coordinated and love one another.
Is the focus of G-50 mostly in Lagos now, any extension?
It will be global.
*What motives?*
It’s to ensure that the Igbo have one voice.
*How are you going to achieve it?*
How we are going to achieve it is what we are doing now. We are gradually doing it, not by strength but the power of the Lord.
*Looking at Lagos state, you spoke a lot about the re-election of Babajide Sanwo-Olu, what are you really telling the women to do?*
The advice I have to give to the women that are not here and to every Igbo person in Lagos is for them to ensure that they get their PVCs. There is a saying in Igbo land that “Ebe onye nu, k’ona wachi, or ebe onye bi, k’ona wachi,’ and there is this notion, this impression that the Igbos don’t vote for the party, my party, the APC. Igbo don’t vote for so many years, but I went into a research and found out the reason, the reason why Igbo doesn’t vote en-masse and I have been able to mention it as well. Igbos are very sensible people, when you take and you use it yourself alone and they don’t see what you have been given, they will not listen to you, if you take something and bring it and they see, even when it does not get to them, they know they have seen, and when you say go and do this, they will go and do it. So what I am telling the other Igbo extractions that are not here is, please, they should try and support great vision by coming together and ensuring that on election day, let us speak with one voice by voting for governor Sanwo-Olu. So, the mothers should talk to their husbands and children, the market people should talk to their friends and colleagues to please, go and collect their PVCs because, without PVCs, they cannot be able to vote.
*What advice do you have for Governor Sanwo-Olu with respect to accommodating the Igbo especially the market women who pay taxes to the government? How can you inspire confidence in them?*
The confidence they have is integrity and reputation of the present government of Sanwo-Olu. Like I always say, he’s first a technocrat before becoming a politician, and as a governor, he will not be everywhere and if information doesn’t come to him at real time, he will not be able to act. But I can assure you this time that the information and complains of Igbo will be getting to him in real time and those injustices will be solved in a very short time.
*We understand and see that you have your people in mind, what kind of a man are you?*
It’s not just the heart of my people, when God created us on earth, he gave us laws; He said the greatest law in life is love and what is that love? Loving your neighbors as you love yourself. My growing up, my father thought me something, he said, ‘keep the gate of your heart pure in so doing you will attain the great height in life’. My message is for people to shun hatred and embrace love and I have seen integrity, reputation, sincerity in Sanwo-Olu, and that is why I am here to tell my people that he is a trusted ally, that he is a trusted corridor, so let them vote for him en-masse and make a great difference. And I assure them he will not let them down.
*Some Igbo elders are against this great idea, what are you going to tell them?*
I don’t know why they are against the idea. Some people have been using disintegration to feed, Igbo call it (Nkewa), some people eat with (Nkewa) but for me, I preach unity. Unity is what I preach, so I ask the people, women that is what I told them inside to give me their full support against those leaders that feel I have come to take food from them, which food? There is no food anywhere but if you work hard, you will see something to eat. The Lord had promised us that the work of our hands will be blessed, do not take what belongs to the poor, it is evil, and I will be against it forever.