The Chairman, Managing Director and the CEO, Peace Group, owner of the Popular Transport Firm, Peace Mass Transit, Mr Samuel Maduka Onyishi, in this interview with ANTHONY ADA ABRAHAM, discusses why he wants to continue to sustain the empowerment programmes and an all-round industrial revolution in Enugu State, this time, as a politician.
Some major entrepreneurs would rather focus on their business, but you are gearing up for entry into politics; what is the lure?
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Mr Samuel Maduka Onyishi (Peace Mass Transit)[/caption]I do not think I want to be called a politician. Politics, for me, is a calling. I am into politics, because I want to be part of the decision-making process in the country. I know what Nigerians need, from my experience. I also know how the poor feel and I am in a privileged position to address the numerous challenges faced by the poor, the middle-class and the highly-placed in society.
If you consider my antecedents, you will understand that I started life as a poor man. I can never forget where I am coming from. I also have experience as a middle-class and as a highly-placed.
When businessmen shy away from politics, you can attribute that to lack of the sacrificial spirit and will power to solve the many demands of society. I have come to realise that God empowered wme to do same for others, and not to indulge in frivolous spending or the so-called ‘bigmanism’. Another reason is that I also want to leave a legacy, one which I will be remembered for.
When I was growing in business, I made a pact with God, telling Him that I will use the resources he availed me to bless him in return. What better way to do this than to render service to humanity?
Money is no legacy; if you leave that as a legacy for your children, they end up fighting over it and breeding hatred among themselves. But legacies are beyond money; they are more tangible and valuable.
You have been a member of the PDP since 1998; with the latest drama in the party, which of the factions are you loyal - the purported ‘New PDP’ as led by Baraje or the ‘mainstream PDP’ chaired by Tukur?
We don’t have factions in the Enugu State chapter of the party. We have only one PDP and it starts from the ward. In my ward, council, local government and state, we have only one PDP, and we don’t know any other PDP except the one whose chairman is Bamanga Tukur.
What is your take on the formation of the Baraje-led PDP?
You should be aware that the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) cannot register two PDPs. That said, I see what is happening now as a family problem that must be resolved. In that regard, President Jonathan is the leader of the party, the one playing a leading role by calling the family into the house to resolve contending issues. It is a family matter and, as such, must be tackled in-house. I am confident that the president is equal to the task.
There are reports that you are eyeing the number one seat in your state, Enugu, in 2015; can you confirm that?
Our governor, Sullivan Chime, has actually zoned the next governorship slot to Enugu North Senatorial Zone, which is Nsukka where I come from. The PDP in the state has also zoned it to Enugu North. Because they saw me grow from grass to grace and as a person they can trust, it is normal for them to beckon on me to represent them. I am not telling you whether I will run or not; what I am telling you that I am qualified to run. However, if my people say I should run, I cannot say no, because I have been an instrument of service to the people. That said, my decision is hinged on God’s approval.
How do you intend to do that in order to surpass the aforementioned strides of the former and current governors of the state?
Given the availability of funds, the potential to make more money for Enugu State and as an entrepreneur of repute, I believe that the God who has taught me how to create wealth and manage resources will not abandon me even as governor, hence, my strong belief that with the third eye of an entrepreneur, I will only do what I know how to do best. Enugu, at this time, needs a person who can sustain and improve ongoing development initiatives, and prepare it for the economic challenges ahead. With what is happening in the oil and gas sector, it is clear that so many countries are discovering oil at their backyards and, sooner than later, you will know that most of the countries who import oil from Nigeria have started discovering oil in their respective countries. A clear example is the United States of America (USA). When they tap into their new-found oil wells, they may not see the need to buy from us again. Now, since oil is our major source of revenue, this means that we would have lost our major source of income.
When this happens, the monthly allocation from the federal government will be reduced. States must strive to survive. The implication is that any state which cannot survive on its own through internally generated revenue to sustain development and service delivery is only sitting on a time bomb, and may not survive. The earlier we start planning for a Nigeria without oil, and an Enugu State without oil, the better for us. The future of the state, in terms of development, income generation and all other economic indicators depends on who the leaders are and their qualities – creativity, economic savvy and goodwill. I have done it before and, today, I have over 4,000 Nigerians on my payroll. I can do it again.
If I am a governor, the state will be more sustained under me. I will provide adequate security measures and build the capacity of my people through education, provision of good health facilities, agriculture, tackle unemployment among the people, especially the youths, provide sustainable job opportunities through agriculture and others.
Political pundits at different fora are of the opinion that President Jonathan is the most distracted and criticised leader in the world; if what they say is true, has it in any way affected his transformation agenda over the past two years? The opposition political parties are yet to see anything good that this government has achieved.
For me as a businessman, and as a believer in the transformation policies of Mr. President, the core aspect of every activity or programme is organisation. When turning around businesses to achieve transformation, many things ought to be put into consideration. Nigeria, because of our diverse culture and religion, needs some special skills to run. Jonathan has performed exceedingly well; his result in terms of achievement over the past two years is excellent. As a stakeholder in road transport business for now, I look at Nigeria from the road transport perspective; I knew how the roads were prior the assumption of office of the present administration. I am aware how the road from Enugu to Port Harcourt highway was; I know how the Enugu-Abakiliki road was. Apart from what the state governments are doing, the federal government is working assiduously on the major highways, building dual roads, massive construction of bridges and flyovers; you cannot start and finish constructing a 100-kilometre road in one month, therefore, he needs time for the result to manifest.
There is a lot of improvement now, more than when he came in. When the roads are bad, we spend more, and when they are good, we spend less; should I say a man who is making me spend less is not doing well? I must be an ingrate and a joker to do that. I am confident to say that he is doing well. Aside the roads, I know how often we used to have scarcity of petrol in the country before he came on board. It is true that the price of oil per litre went up a little, but if you look at the amount people pay for fuel outside the shores of this country, one can as well say our oil price is still very fair. You and I know that we now have stable supply of petroleum products, earlier than now, there were period we bought PMS at N200 per litre and N1,000 a galon but now we buy at N97 a litre while a galon cannot cost you more than N500, unlike before. When there is difference in the price of oil, it is the operators that suffer more. For instance, somebody can be buying at N250 in Kano, another may be buying at N130 in Port Harcourt, while another person may be buying at N97 in Lagos and Abuja; this makes a mess of our business, as it will be difficult for us to know how much we are making, and all the money we are making eventually ends up in other people’s pocket, because you cannot actually tell your driver the amount of money he will spend on fuel, because you don’t know it.
But the case is different today; our business is stable and one can now make better plans and aspire for better things ahead. One distinguishing factor that has endeared me to this government is the achievement made on the roads and petroleum sector; these are verifiable achievements. Between 1999 and 2011, the price of petrol in South East Nigeria was never the same with the price in other parts of the country, today the price all over Nigeria is the same (Peace Mass Transit operates in the six geo-political zones of the country, so, I know what I am talking about).
I could recall about five years ago when some people came to me, asking for N2 million so that my name will be included among those to receive national honours, I refused because I know I merited it. In 2012 President Goodluck Jonathan bestowed on me the national honours award (MON) without any third party fronting for me; should such leaders not be encouraged? Do you know that I can now conveniently walk from my workshop at Emene, Enugu, to the airport and board a flight to China where I do my business? Indeed, Jonathan has done well.
Again, when a man tells me that there is going to be an election and my vote will count, which was achieved in this administration, I went to my ward in Nsukka in 2011, and for the first time in my life as an adult, I was able to cast my vote, I watched as the votes were being counted and then the results were announced, and taken to the collation centre; this tells you that something new is happening. Those that won election in 2011 won it from their votes. Some people who go about saying that elections were rigged did not have agents in the boots. When a man is contesting election and he does not have agents in boots, how can he claim that he was rigged out? Who informed him? Those who contest election but lack the capacity to have agents in various boots where election are being held are responsible for aiding and abetting rigging in this country; therefore, the earlier INEC starts sanctioning people who contest election without bringing agents to monitor the votes cast, the earlier Nigerian democracy will get better.
Mr. President is yet to announce his intention to run in 2015; are you one of those who are agitating for his comeback at the expiration of this tenure?
As far as I am concerned, the president is doing well and if the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria permits him to run in 2015, I do not see anything or anybody stopping him from running. The constitution has enormous powers to determine whether or not he is qualified to run again. I will urge the people of Enugu State to vote for him en masse.
Aside Goodluck Jonathan, who else do you think has the capacity to pilot the affairs of this country?
Statistically, we have over 160 million Nigerians; Goodluck can only be president for maximum of eight years. After this time, Nigeria must continue and, at the right time, God will provide the right leader to succeed Jonathan in 2019. No one should be in a hurry to ask him to leave, as it is not yet time to do so.
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