Senator Hellen Udoakagha Esuene, so far the only woman who had indicated interest in contesting the governorship election in Akwa-Ibom state in 2015, in this interaction with our reporter, Edoamaowo Udeme, says she would build on the achievements of Governor Godswill Akpabio if voted into power. She also explains the meaning of Affirmation Action just as she maintains that society could only be better if women are given the chance to be part of the decision making process. Excerpts:
What gives you the courage to dare to contest governorship election in a male dominated political environment like Akwa-Ibom state?
I dont see governorship as an insurmountable task neither do I see it as a task beyond my reach. Also, aspiring for any political position is free for all Nigerians. It is my fundamental human right to aspire and I believe I have a lot to offer to my people. That’s why I am aspiring.
Looking back to the past elections in Akwa Ibom, violence has been part of it, how will you, as a woman, cope with it?
I am not going to cope with it because violence will not come my way; that’s all. The law enforcement people and the various arms of security officers will cope with it. It’s not my duty to do so.
You want to step into Governor Godswill Akpabio’s shoes; how do you rate him?
I rate him very highly; he has done a lot for the state. He has done a lot in transforming the whole landscape of Akwa Ibom state, even for us who reside in the state, sometimes I get confused as per which road do I take to get to where? He has done alot in terms of infrastructural development, so I rate him very highly.
According to you, Akpabio has done a lot, what will you do differently?
Government is continuous. There is always something that must be continously done by the new government otherwise, there will be no need for a new government worldwide. The fact that he has done well doesn’t mean that the new government will not do anything. There are so many areas.
Where will your emphasis be in regards to your policies and programmes considering the fact that there are lots of women and children issues in the state?
If I just want to say it in one sentence, Human capital development.
Being a Senator is quite different from a Governor, how would you cope with that very demanding role?
Every position requires some level of organisation and I am not trying to blow my trumpet but I am a very organized person in whatever I do and I believe whatever you are planning to do, you just sit down and compartmentalise it and give it time. So, I will cope with it very well.
You were a one time Minister, Minister of State and now a Senator, people are going to ask you about your achievements before voting for you. There may be very many minor ones, please tell us the major things you’ve achieved?
I served in the Health Ministry for six months. During that period, my schedule included the Federal Medical Centers; it also included some foreign interventions that has to do with HIV/AIDS, Bird flu and it was during my time that we were able to source for a big foreign financial assistance for the Bird Flu. Before then, Nigerians did not believe in it. The same thing they said about HIV/AIDS saying that it was a white mans disease until people actually started to die before they believed. It was during my watch that the Federal Executive Council agreed and and consented to having AIDS patients recieve anti-retroviral drugs for free because we were able to convince them that if the government does not make it free, the disease will spread like wildfire. For the bird flu, it was during my watch that we were able to manage the one that arose in some parts of the north. Coming back home, I was able to get the Federal Medical Center, Uyo to be transformed into a Teaching Hospital. As Minister of Environment, I was there for a little over a year and I jump-started quite a few projects. You have heard about the Green World Sahara programme. It was officially launched here in Abuja during my tenure. Food to Land was a programme that was to turn around the semi arid areas in the north into food baskets and it had components with the Isreali and American government. We even went as far as signing an MOU on that. I jump started Integrated Waste Management all within that one year.
Are those projects still in existence?
Well, that is a different kettle of fish entirely because it is supposed to be continous because I realised that you must take care of your waste properly and we are talking about global warming not forgetting that indiscriminate dumping of refuse contribute to it. Because in every dumpsite, a lot of methane is being generated. So, I thought that we should have that so it can segment our refuse and turn the main ones which are biological into compost so that farmers could make use of it. The issue of the Niger Delta, we visited Ogoni which has so many well heads that is still leaking with oil and gas. I made that visit in company with the Senate and the House Committee on Environment. It was that visit which led to the Federal Executive Council, my boss the President asking me to bring in UNDP to carry out a proper assessment of Ogoniland. The report is this voluminous (using her hand to demonstrate the size). Those are what I achieved as a Minister. Other projects are small things like erotions and remediations. Now, in my present position as a Senator, I have about five bills to my name; I have several constituency projects to my name. I heve started to commission them. I commissioned one last month and I may commission one before June.
Can you please expantiate on them and let us know exactly what projects they are?
I have produced a magazine that captures all my projects but the one I had last year is a fish processing center in two local governments, Mbo and Ibeno. They’ve started work there and in the next few months, they will be through. I started that magazine as a way of informing my people about what I am doing so they can read it at their own leisure and be informed! I started the job network center. I have contributed my bit in the Senate. You know that women and youth matters are very demanding.
Lets talk about local politics,with the zoning policy. Uyo Senatorial District (USD) has had its turn so does Ikot Ekpene (ISD) now it’s Eket (ESD) which incidentally falls in your territory but the Oron people who are still part of you are saying that if they are not going to the Hiltop Mansion, the Ibibios should go but never Eket, how will you be able to convince them to vote you in?
I cannot convince them because everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion. I woun’t even try to convince anybody. I just market myself as per what I want and what I can do for them, and you cannot prevent people from holding views. It’s their rights, I too feel that it should come to Eket axis so everybody is entitled to his own opinion.
Do you believe in zoning?
Of course yes.
Did you consult him and did he give you a go ahead to contest?
Yes, I consulted him and yes he gave me a go ahead to contest. He is my governor, I must consult him which I did and he didn’t tell me not to.
What is your word for the women who will stand by you on or before that day?
I will tell them to stay focused, on the increased participation of women in politics. They should be focused and not be intimidated by what they see and hear because I believe that the affirmative action is not primarily just for women. I don’t believe that it is aimed at making women happy but much more serious than that. What affirmative action stands for is that you can’t just do it alone as one gender because the two genders see situation from different angles and until you have the two angles, you cant have a balanced decision on anything. Several times, people dicsuss about issues in my company and when I come I will point out certain areas and they will say oh! “We didnt look at that area.” It’s as simple as that. But sometimes, men feel that we are coming to displace them. No! Affirmative action is for the greater good of the society not just that women are going to be pampered or empowered differently.
What is your word for your colleagues who are contesting with you in the guber elections in 2015?
The same advice I will give myself. Look around you and your environment very well and plan your strategy.
