Hon. Peter Ede represents Eza North and Ishelu federal constituency of Ebonyi State in the House of Representatives. Elected on the platform of All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), he is the deputy chairman, House committee on Solid Mineral Development. He speaks with Fred Itua on Igbo presidency and other national issues.
There are allegations of migration of the Northerners from Eastern states over threats to their lives? What is the true position?
Let me first and foremost debunk the claim that the Igbos intend to carry out reprisal attacks on Northerners living in the East. It has not come to that point yet. We always condemn in the strongest terms possible, the killings of the Igbos in any part of Nigeria. The laws of the country permit the Igbos or Hausas to live in any part of the country. Whenever we receive information about the killing of the Igbos on the grounds of where they are from, it saddens us. Having said that, we are also calling on those carrying out any act of violence against the Igbos to desist from it.
So what are the Igbo leaders doing now?
We have the confidence of the people we represent. As we provide leadership to them, they also have to listen to us. Otherwise, the essence of electing us will be defeated. We have made an appeal to our people not to engage in any act that will bring about the breakdown of law and order in the country. Having said that, the Igbos have a right to self-defence under the law. Whenever necessary, they can always seek for self help.
There are other Igbo leaders outside the House of Representatives who have come out to condemn these killings and we urge security agencies to intensify more efforts by salvaging this whole mess. I must say that if our people are provoked beyond their capacity to endure, they might be forced to retaliate and it could become dangerous. Gone were the days when Igbos were used as canon fodders!
The issue about who succeeds late Odumegwu Ojukwu as the leader of the Igbos is still pending. Do you think whoever gets the mandate can further champion the cause of the Igbos?
We need to understand that leadership is earned. The society and its circumstances at any given time, throws up a leader. You need to earn it. Anyone could be crowned a leader, but it doesn’t translate to earning respect from the people he leads. The leader’s antecedents are what will earn him the respect. The Igbo leadership is not like that of a political party or a church; it comes by a consensus. The contributions to the welfare of the Igbos and how you advance their collective cause is what will earn anyone the thrust of leadership. The Igbos are very republican in nature. We are not like the Yorubas or the Hausas; Igbos are Igbos. Almost every family and clan in Igbo land has its own leader. But I believe we might agree on a leader that will substantially take over from the great Ikemba, but I don’t think we are ready for that phase now.
Some people from your region are clamouring that an Igbo man deserves to have a short at the presidency in 2015. Do you think the Igbos are ready for that?
I think that the question of a president emerging from the Igbo stock is a moral issue as much as it’s a political issue. While we don’t have a sense of entitlement, but we feel that we have paid our dues. We have made a lot of sacrifices. The most contributions to national developments have been made by the Igbos. Sadly however, we have not had a chance to lead this nation at the top. Some might argue that Nnamdi Azikiwe was a president, but you and I understand the kind of president he was.
The Igbos feel that the other component part of this nation should be given a shot at the presidency. I will not be surprised if an Igbo man makes a bid for it. But it is too early to say. I must however say that the region where the president of Nigeria comes from is not as important to me as the competence of the individual involved. Whoever can deliver irrespective of his geo- political zone should be allowed to lead. That is the most important aspect.
Since your assumption of office as the representative of your people, how have you affected their lives?
Since I was elected and sworn in, I have concentrated my energy on ways I can provide jobs for my people. As we speak now, arrangements to construct boreholes in my constituency are in top gear. More than that, I want to put an arrangement in place where I can give out soft loans to the rural women so they can start small businesses and reduce the hardship they face. I have been giving scholarships to people and I intend to keep doing that. By the time I complete my tenure here, the people in my constituency will truly feel the impacts of the level of developments I am going to bring to them. ?