My philanthropy, not motivated by politics –Prince Obi Orizu, Crown Prince of Nnewi Kingdom

FROM OBINNA ODOGWU, EKWULOBIA

Prince Obi Orizu is the crown prince of Nnewi kingdom, the first son of HRH Igwe (Dr) K.O.N. Orizu III, the traditional ruler of Nnewi. Born on November 29th 1965, he is married to his lovely wife, Ebele and God blessed the marriage with three chil­dren ― Chidera, Chiamaka and Chidubem. He spoke lately with Sunday Sun on the occasion of his 50th birthday celebration about his life and state of the nation. Ex­cerpts:

For the benefit of those who don’t know you, could you say a bit about yourself?

I am Prince Obi Orizu, the first son of HRH. Igwe Orizu III; the tradi­tional ruler of Nnewi. I was born on November 29th, 1965. I am married to Ebele and we have three children, namely Chidera, Chiamaka and Chidubem. I had my primary educa­tion at Okpaudo Central School and later attended Nnewi High School for my secondary education although I finished in Okongwu where I ob­tained my Senior Secondary School Certificate (WASC). Subsequently, I attended Anambra State University of Technology, Enugu Campus where I was actually supposed to study Mass Communication but somehow I felt I was wasting my time. So, I had to proceed to University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife) and studied History. Later, I attended Nnamdi Azikiwe Univer­sity, Awka, where I did my Masters degree in Public Administration and obtained a Bachelors degree in Law at different times. After I was called to the bar, I proceeded to University of Jos where I obtained a Master’s degree, LLM, in Law. I also attended the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators in the United Kingdom and did a Di­ploma in International Commercial Transactions and became a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitra­tors. Currently, I’m doing my Ph.D programme.

You recently celebrated your 50th birthday. What ex­actly are you celebrating at 50?

I’m celebrating God’s love, basi­cally God’s love.

What’s your legacy in this community?

Yeah, we’ve sponsored so many scholarships so far and lately at Nnewi Central School where the best student received N50,000.We tried to do something different from what people normally do when they attain a particular age. Instead of in­viting the whole world to wine and dine, we provided hostel facilities to a school that had none and with the help of my friends we are trying to construct four hostels, a dining hall, kitchen and toilet facilities to make students comfortable while they learn. I knew if we hosted a party, it will be the talk of the town but tomorrow it’s forgotten. These initiatives started with Nnewi High School where we renovated a block, Nnewi Central School, where we did another block, Edoji Central School, then St. Michael’s, Umudim and Hope Waddel Training Institute, Cal­abar. You know, the good thing is that wherever we touched other people complemented our efforts.

These achievements are quite laudable but were they politically motivated?

No. I am not doing it for politics. This is something I enjoy doing. What’s the point having plenty of money in your pockets and people are suffering? That doesn’t make sense. But then, I wish people who want to run for any political office will emulate me. If you want to run for a political office in ten years time, start today and give to society, you understand? If you have about 10 people doing that, you will discover that in two or three years, a lot would be done. But then, I reiterate, all I did were not politically motivated.

Currently, the Independent National Electoral Commis­sion (INEC) is grappling with the Kogi governorship elec­tion because of the sudden demise of the All Progres­sives Congress flag bearer, Abubakar Audu. INEC has announced that it would consult legal practitioners to chart a way forward but as a lawyer, what do you think is the way out? What does the constitution say?

There is a lacuna actually in the constitution. Opinions vary. Some people say his deputy should carry on and others oppose that. At this stage, nobody knows actually. Maybe it should be politically resolved and in that case, his deputy can be the gov­ernorship candidate of the APC; but even when they do that, you’ll still have to ask some questions. Would there be a runoff if the election is in­conclusive? Mind you, from tomor­row INEC may come up with mo­dalities having disclosed that they’re currently consulting. APC itself may by tomorrow come up with its own position on that.

Some political analysts argue that political parties actually contest election ac­cording to the electoral law. What do you make of that argument considering the situation in Kogi?

If it’s actually the political party that contests election why field can­didates? The party could have just gone to election and after winning, they will bring out who will rule. You see, if you field a bad candidate, no matter how good your party is, you’ll see that you’re still going to fail. So, it’s not purely the political party that is running the election. It’s still the is­sue that has to do with the candidate otherwise you will bring in candi­date A, he will win the election then at the point of swearing in you’ll say get out, it’s us, it’s the party that con­tested the election; we are bringing in candidate B. At that point, you see that it’s not possible. So, I don’t think that’s what’s going to be obtainable.

Many federal institutions are opposed to a Single Treasury Account (STA) in­troduced by President Mu­hammadu Buhari and there seems to be economic hard­ship in the land. What’s your opinion of TSA?

You know when this crisis started, we were made to understand that it was actually former President Goodluck Jonathan that brought up the idea. There is nothing that’s new that people will not kick against and especially in Nigeria where there is so much corruption, people actually don’t want the new thing if that new thing is going to hinder the usual life they’ve been living. From everything we have been told and considering the money they have saved from the TSA operation, I suppose we should give it a try to see how it will turn­out. There is so much hunger in the land, because, it’s no more free for all unlike what was obtainable under Jonathan. Under Jonathan, nobody cared where the country was heading to. It was like “okay let us keep on taking it until there is nothing else left to be taken.” But now, somebody else came in and said let’s hold on, that the way we are going there might be a day when there would be nothing left on the table. So, at that point you will agree with me that it’s not going to be that easy because we now have to do some restructuring. That’s what I think.

What do you make of the recent face-off between Pe­ter Obi and Governor Willie Obiano over the controver­sial N75 billion the former said he left in the coffers while leaving office?

It’s not actually good for the state and I don’t actually know why there should be controversy. Was there N75 billion in the first place? If there was, why is there controversy? Well, I may not be able to comment fully on that as I don’t have the facts now but I heard somebody saying that in as much as Peter Obi left some money which may not be as much as he was claiming to have left, the debt he in­curred is almost equal to whatever he said he left in the coffers. I should be­lieve that it was on that premise Obia­no is saying that the former governor did not leave that amount in the cof­fers. But if you make an investment, if you set up an industry for instance, it will not be fair to tell the world that the money that was used in setting up the industry is part of the money you left behind. The money invested in Sabmiller or something will not be part of the money you left behind. I should suppose that the money we should be calculating as the money left behind is supposed to be money the new governor can utilize. You understand? Not the one you have to sell something to acquire. I think that is where the controversy is, but like I said earlier, I cannot comment fully on it as I don’t have the facts.

Now, how would you rate Gov. Willie Obiano’s perfor­mance so far?

I can’t say much. I have not seen his presence in Nnewi. I heard he is doing some things in his place, but you know he is still new. You don’t actually judge people in their one year of service to the state or the nation. You may recall that when Peter Obi first came on board, in his first four years, the Agulu people called him names, saying all sorts of things about him but before he left, he turned Agulu almost into a city, because he ended up doing every road in Agulu. Every nook and cranny and brought so many developmental projects into the place. So, most times, you actually shouldn’t judge people within their one year in office. I believe the man will do well. This is the first time Anambra North is ruling the state and I don’t think he will want to dis­appoint his people; because disap­pointing them means that the north might not be able to get the chance to go for second term. However, let me wrap this interview up with a congratulatory message to my fa­ther and traditional ruler of Nnewi Kingdom, HRH Igwe (Dr) K.O.N. Orizu III, CON, JP, on the occasion of his 90th birthday coming up later this year. I wish him the very best as he celebrates. I wish him more years on the throne, God’s guid­ance and protection and wisdom.