The member representing Nsukka/Igboeze South federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Dr. Pat Asadu has declared that Governor Ifeanyi of Enugu State would have a smooth sail in his re-election bid.
Asadu, who spoke to journalists, Friday, on a wide range of issues, also dismissed the insinuations that the leadership of the National Assembly might be removed on resumption from break on October 9, 2018.
The lawmaker said “Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has no serious opponent; he remains the candidate to beat due to his unassailable high performance record and his closeness to the people.”
He added that the return of former governor of the state, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani, who is also aspiring to go back to senate, back to PDP, as a good omen for his party, saying that Nnamani was the founder of ‘Ebeano” political structure where almost all the politicians in the state today, including Governor Ugwuanyi, Dep Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, Sen Gill Nnaji and himself belong to.
Asadu said that fears about possible leadership crisis in the National Assembly, which were based on threats by the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), should not be taken seriously because it will be difficult for the party to muster the two third majority required to effect leadership change in both the Senate and House of Representatives.
The lawmaker, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seeking a fourth term in the Green Chambers, stated that besides, the two leading parties, the APC and PDP would have a lot of issues to contend with after the party primaries coming up before the resumption of the National Assembly.
“I don’t foresee struggle over leadership of the National Assembly. I’m tracking primaries. APC that is coming back to the House will not be the APC that the party was telling to go and destroy the House. So there will be cross movement of members across party lines.
“It is after the party primaries of both parties that we shall know who is in majority.
“You can’t get two third majority in the House of Representatives or Senate to remove anybody. We are talking to ourselves and tracking ourselves. The easiest way to lose credibility as a lawmaker is to align with the executive to undermine the parliament. We are determined to ensure the independence of the legislature,” he said.
On his fourth term bid, Asadu said he was re-contesting based on his performance and constitutional right, saying that if he runs and loses fairly he would congratulate the winner but if it is manipulated against him, he would resort to the courts.
He said that more that 5000 constituents benefited from his free medical interventions aside thousands of youths who also gained from his empowerment programmes.
He said that the ruling party at the national level, the APC, would be a hard sell in Enugu and South East geopolitical zone in general as it would be difficult to convince the people that they were getting a fair deal from the APC led federal government.
“If there is anything this government is guilty of, it is operating against the constitution. Look at Section 14 for instance, which deals on federal character.
“Appointments in this country have been insulting. Look at the issue of appointment of the Director General of DSS and other service chiefs. Why bring a retired man to replace a serving man. When the time for campaign comes, we shall talk to our people.
“If President Buhari can do so many things like the DSS issue when he is looking for votes, what will he not do when he is doing his second term?” he said.
On why he fraternizes with the Muslim community which forms major part of his constituents, Asadu said that they are Nigerians and also his constituents who deserve equal attention like his people.
“What I’m doing for them is also their constitutional rights. I represent them too, both Muslims and Christians. We talk about development. I do Sallah with Muslims and share constituency projects with them, they have been with us for a long time, they vote for me,” he said.
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