KWENU: Our Culture, Our Future

A chat with Ngozi Orubele, Owerri by-election candidate 

ACHO ORABUCHI

Dallas, Texas

aorabuchi@netzero.net

Thursday, September 1, 2005

The death of Senator Amah Iwuagwu a few months ago left a political vacuum in his community, Mbaitolu-Ikeduru Federal Constituency. Meanwhile, the question of who fills the vacant Owerri Senatorial seat as a result of his untimely death in the USA leaves about seven short-listed candidates jockeying for the position at a heightened political permutation.

That led me to talk with one of the candidates, whose political stock continues to be on the rise. Well, I gained an intriguing insight into a woman, Mrs. Ngozi Bernadette Orubele, whose towering political capital continues to surge upward when political values of some people are gradually fading into obscurity. She’s a woman on a mission; trying to emerge as her party’s choice in a field of crowded candidates for the Owerri Senatorial Zone Bye Election. The original field of about 21 candidates eyeing to fill a vacant seat that has not yet declared open by the Senate has been currently reduced to about seven contestants.

A chat with Ngozi Bernadette Orubele penultimate Saturday revealed a woman who’s personable, caring, compassionate, a person who has unbridled passion for hard work and welfare of her people. The excerpts.

How did you get to this point?

The Owerri Senatorial Zone agreed to zone the seat to Mbaitolu-Ikeduru Federal Constituency called Mbaike. In a meeting at Chief Iwuanyanwu’s residence where all the political parties were represented, Mbaike decided to zone the senatorial seat to Mbaitolu. However, Mbaike asked Mbaitolu to bring only three candidates so that they would select one out of the three individuals.

Is PDP going to conduct a primary?

Yes, PDP is going to conduct a primary. There will be a primary for the three short-listed candidates.

Are other parties going to contest for the open seat?

Yes. However, if Mbaitolu brings the best candidate, other parties may not field another candidate. If Mbaitolu selects a weak candidate, other parties may select stronger candidates to run for the open seat. Therefore, it is important for my community to select someone who would appeal all the parties.

Why do you want to be a senator?

I’m qualified for the job; I have a very good chance of being elected. I’ve been a party woman and very well versed and stand a good chance of clinching the nomination. As a Senator for Owerri Senatorial district I would like to leave a legacy of accomplishments in the following areas: increased employment rate for the youths and women; Better economic opportunities for women; adequate healthcare provision, especially to those people in the rural areas; rehabilitation of existing basic infrastructures (roads, water); and improved standard of education.

However, the people of Mbitolu and Owerri Zone will determine who represents them.

What makes you a better candidate?

I have the interest of the people at heart. I don’t just want to be a Senator. I just want to represent the people. I have acquired tremendous skills as a businesswoman both nationally and internationally. I can use those skills I have acquired to serve my people better.

All my life I’ve been serving humanity; I want to use this opportunity—position to correct things that have been going wrong in the society. I want to represent our people well. It is my goal to continue to empower our youth and the women. The issue of delinquency and armed robbery would be taken care of with proper programs. When you empower the youth with proper skills and employment, they would be responsible and productive thereby contributing immensely to the economy. I plan to introduce bills that would establish programs that would help our youth. Our youths are endangered. In some cases, we create loan scheme whereby soft loans could be given to those who want to establish small-scaled businesses could raise their initial capital. This act will empower them to create their own employment and still contribute to the growth of the economy. They can be self-employed with the advancement of capital. The modalities will be worked out to minimize business failures.

We can do the same thing for women. It is important that we help women to be self-sufficient. We need to encourage them to participate in every sector of the economy. For instance, some women could do better if they are given soft loans to set up their own businesses. With the flourishing businesses, they could contribute to the welfare of their respective families and the society.

What do you intend to achieve as a Senator?

As I mentioned above, I want to leave a legacy of accomplishments in the Senate. Remember that Senate is a law-making body. I want to ensure that laws that create enabling environment for the masses and economic growth are made expeditiously. I will initiate and co-sponsor some bills to make that happen. In addition, I want to ensure that my zone attracts federal presence by ensuring that things that due to my zone are given to it. I’m going to be focused.

Also, I want to contribute my quota to help the people of Owerri Senatorial Zone.

How would you evaluate the Southeast Senators?

We have some good senators from Southeast. A lot of them have done very well so far. Yes, we have some bad eggs, but we have good ones that are rarely mentioned in the press.

How would you react if you were not successful in your bid?

I’ll still work for the party. It’s not a do or die thing for me. If my people chose someone else, I’d support the party and the person.

Since you’re a busy person, when do you have time for leisure?

I do manage my time very well. My kids are grown and have so much time to do many things. I make out time for my husband, for my family.

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Mr. Ossy Unamba, who has a personal knowledge of the candidate, Mrs. Ngozi Orubele, gives an impressive testimonial about Ngozi Orubele. Excerpts:

Mrs. Ngozi Orubele is not new to Owerri Senatorial area. She attended Owerri Girls Secondary School in Owerri; her interest and fascination with the people was evident when she fell in love and married her husband, Chief Innocent Orubele, who also hails from Achi, Mbaititoli, in Owerri Senatorial zone. On the other hand, Chief Orubele also obtained secondary education at Holy Ghost College, Owerri, Imo State, where he was widely known in the whole area for his athletic wizardry, especially in soccer and high jump.

In Lagos where the couple has lived for over a decade, their homes have been the gathering center of many young men and women of Owerri indigene who would come to eat, drink, or relax sometimes for few days. There is hardly any person from Owerri area who lives in Lagos that does not know this couple or that has not enjoyed Mrs. Ngozi Orubele’s wonderful hospitality, whether you were rich or just getting by, it didn’t matter to her.

Her natural inclination to help her fellow human being, even when it is difficult, always couple her unassuming and sincere respect and regard for her neighbors and new friends she made among the Yorubas in Lagos. She once told me that her reason for delving into politics was to be able to help as many people as she could, especially those who need help the most, the young and the less privileged in her resident State, Lagos. She felt that she and her husband had accomplished so much in Lagos, therefore felt obligated to give back to the community.  

Ngozi admired the tenacity, vigor, intelligence, and unselfish hard work with which her predecessor late Senator Amah Iwuagwu performed wonderfully in efforts to accomplish so many things for his Owerri Zone. But unfortunately he did not live to see his hard work come to fruition. Therefore, her mission and commitment as a Senator for Owerri Zone would be to complete the projects started by her late predecessor, additionally, set new goals that she would like to accomplish for her constituency. This would be her ultimate legacy at the end of her tenure as Senator. She also plans to work fervently to support the Governor of Imo State, and all the local government chairmen in the Owerri Senatorial District for the benefit of her constituency, and Imo state in general.

Those who know Mrs. Orubele would agree that she is the right person that Owerri Zone needs in the Senate. She truly cares for them and would work very hard and unselfishly to ensure their basic needs are cared, and their voice is heard. Her peers in politics, business, and academia respect her. She would not hesitate to speak up for herself or for constituency. As a Senator, Ngozi Orubele’s hallmark of achievement would be characterized with transparency, accountability, and fairness in her relationship with her constituencies, colleagues, and the public. These are natural to Ngozi Bernadette Orubele, and it is how anyone who has come in contact with her would describe her.