In this interview with Tentacle’s Jude Nzennaya, former leader in the Seventh Port Harcourt City Legislative Assembly and one of the newly elected councilors under Ibas Ibok-Ette as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Honorable Orlu Noble Ibenkam shares his thoughts on what to expect from local government chairmen after the recent council elections
Now that the local government elections have come and gone, what is your take before and after the exercise?
The purpose of the election is for good governance, especially at the grassroots level and I expect the newly inaugurated Chairman to perform, though they were performing as we can see before the suspension came on. They were doing very well as they towed the part of our leader Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, the Minister Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja. And so, I have confidence that they are going to do well most especially my Chairman, Honorable Allwell Ihunda, a wonderful man and a performer who you do not need anyone to tell you and I know Port Harcourt people know that and it goes to other Chairmen and members of their teams.
Almost all the elected councilors and chairmen were elected into offices under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but most of them now have been reelected under the All Progressive Congress (APC), why?
It is a party affair, we take instructions from our leader Ezenwo Nyesom Wike and he knows the best for us and the party. And so if it has gone the way it is today, I have nothing to say about it as a member that takes instructions from his boss and my take is that there should be good governance irrespective of the party under which elected chairmen and councilors emerge. If the APC has won some seats and the PDP won some seats, I think the equation is balanced.
Are all the elected chairmen and councilors card carrying members of the All Progressive Congress?
That is what it is supposed to be and that is a party affair and everyone knows how defection happens in a party. So, I am not in a position to know all that as you can see I am a member of PDP for now unless it happens otherwise in future. But for now, I am a member of the Peoples Democratic Party so I don’t have anything to say about a member of the PDP defecting to APC. I think that question should go to the Chairman of the party.
How do you feel about the thanksgiving service organized by Chairman, Port Harcourt City with the councilors including you?
Well, the Bible says in everything we should give thanks to God and I think that is what we have done. We have given Him thanks, we gave thanks to wisdom, we gave thanks for a successful election and we gave thanks for good governance. So, the God that answers prayers knows what we have given thanks for and I am sure He will perfect everything we have given Him thanks for.
Do you see yourself coming back as Leader of the House with the other executives?
Well, I did introduce myself earlier as former Leader of the Port Harcourt City Legislative Assembly, and I think it was the will of God that I emerge the first time and if it is His will for me to continue in that position and role, so be it and if it is His will otherwise, I will play along with the House. The most important thing is that I am a member of the eighth Assembly that is coming up.
What are your views and comments on suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubura?
As all of us know, when the crisis started the governor said it was a father and son matter and that no one should interfere. The minister also said the governor is his son. So, it is not what we should discuss or go into because if a father said “this is my son” and the son said “he is my father,” who am I to go in between them? So, let us assume it is a father and son affair.
