BY ABUCHI IFESINACHI, AWKA
Former Governorship candidate of Accord Party who is now aspiring to represent Orumba North/South in the House of Representatives, Dr. Igwebuike Ifeanyi Hygers has counseled the leadership of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) not to allow the defection of former Governor Peter Obi to distract the party.
Speaking in an interview with 247ureports.com in his country home at Umuomaku in Orumba South local government area of Anambra state said dwelling on Obi’s defection will create unnecessary distraction and make Obi look like a tin god as according to him, his exit from the party will not have any negative impact on APGA if well handled.
Hygers said after his gubernatorial shot under the platform of Accord Party, he collapsed his campaign office into that of the incumbent Governor, Chief Willie Obiano and worked for his success while making up his mind not to contest election.
According to him, he was prevailed upon by the leaders of his federal constituency who adopted him to go to the House of Representatives and give them effective representation. Otherwise, he continued, he has since then engaged in charity work-repairing rural roads in various areas of his constituency even on the federal road that led to the constituency especially at Nanka on Awka-Ekwulobia road and at Ndikelionwu and Omogho on Ekwulobia-Umunze road. He has also created new roads in some areas.
He has also provided petrol to common man, especially commercial motor-cycle operators for whom he instructed filling stations to filling their tanks free of charged.
Hygers who is a retired soldier lamented that Orumba North/South federal constituency has suffered poor representation in the resent political dispensation and that is why the constituents have been trooping to his house, asking him to run.
This is his main motivation as he seeks to lay a solid foundation that will last. According to him, Orumba North and South federal constituency is rich in natural resources and he wants to see how to harness them for the good of his people.
He said he has already discussed the issue with experts and the process has already started.
Asked if he is not worried by the incumbent in that office, Hygers said he is well prepared for the job. According to him, as a military officer, he is in a better position to represent his people because his background makes him understand the country better.
His words: “I am not going there to start learning. I am a master in that. I am a retired military officer and I understand people of all tribes in Nigeria. The incumbent has done well in some areas and performed very badly in other areas. Incumbents can lose elections. We have seen that in Ekiti state. It is the people that will determine who to vote for”.
Asked what he thinks about adopting President Goodluck Jonathan by his party in the 2015 election, Hygers said Nigeria has no alternative to Jonathan yet. Besides, it is a party decision.
On Obi’s defection, he said: “Obi’s exit will not have any impact depending on how Governor Obiano handles it. If we dwell on Peter Obi, we will be celebrating him. People of integrity have now joined APGA and those of less value will leave”.
