Ika Mirror
Prof. Destiny Oriehi Anyaiwe was a National Democratic Congress (NDC) House of Assembly aspirant for Ika South Constituency. He is an educationist and ICT expert. In this interview granted to Ika Mirror last weekend at his residence in Agbor, Delta State, he expressed sadness over the government’s failure to improve the lives of citizens and explained why the NDC should be supported to bring about the total transformation of Ika South, Delta State, and Nigeria as a whole.
Excerpt:
*Please Sir, may we meet you?*
I am Prof. Destiny Oriehi Anyaiwe.
*You were an aspirant of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the recent party primary election. Can you tell us about your experience?*
The experience was wonderful. It allowed me to go to the grassroots, meet people, and better understand the pain points of our communities.
*Why did you contest?*
As you know, I am an academic professor. When I looked at what I have achieved in the academic world outside the shores of Nigeria, I felt I had accomplished a great deal for someone of my age. However, if I were to die today, many of those people would not even attend my funeral because, in the end, your own people are the ones who truly matter. Whenever I came back home, I saw the pain and suffering of our people. That was what pushed me to contest for the House of Assembly seat for Ika South Constituency under the platform of the NDC.
*Why did you choose the NDC?*
Let us give honour to whom honour is due. First, to Peter Obi. However, Peter Obi cannot do it alone. We need smaller “Peter Obis” at the Local Government, House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, and Governorship levels. I consider myself one of those smaller Peter Obis in terms of integrity, conservativeness, truthfulness to the people, vision, and innovation.
Also, the NDC was formed because its national leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, wanted to provide a strong voice for the people of the South-South (Niger Delta). I identify with both of these ideals.
*Are you happy with the outcome of the NDC House of Assembly primary election in Ika South Constituency?*
Yes, I am. When you lose, it simply means it is not yet your time. That is how I see it. Losing also teaches you the things you still need to learn.
*Are you going to continue with the NDC?*
Yes, with all my heart and with my little financial resources.
*Does the NDC have a chance in the forthcoming 2027 general elections?*
Yes, of course. The NDC is the vehicle for ending the economic crisis, hardship, insecurity, and the many challenges facing ordinary Nigerians today, especially the people of Ika South.
*What is your view on the recent challenges in Nigeria?*
I would rather localize the discussion than make it too broad. Let us look at Ika South, my local government.
When you consider communities such as Oki, Emuhu, Alidinma, Obi Iduhon, Abavo, Alisimie, and others, you will realize that for the past twenty years, the system has remained largely dormant in terms of employment, industrial growth, and innovation. The area has remained stagnant. Whenever people stop innovating and refuse to move with changing times, progress naturally slows down.
Every year, students graduate, yet there are no industries or companies to employ them. Schools are dilapidated, and the quality of education continues to decline.
The government should create jobs by supporting small businesses and encouraging the establishment of new industries.
The type of education we currently have in Ika South—and indeed across Nigeria—is outdated. For example, a student may study Java programming in Agbor, but after graduation, where exactly will such a person apply those skills within Agbor?
The same lack of innovation also affects the fight against insecurity. Government should properly educate people on its programmes and proactively involve communities in solving problems. Unfortunately, governments at all levels in Nigeria tend to be reactive rather than proactive.
About two months ago, we witnessed a train derailment that claimed many lives. How could such a thing happen if the system were proactive? How could a railway track be damaged without the railway authorities detecting it?
Regarding insecurity, we have traditional rulers and community chiefs. How much effort has government made to engage them effectively so that their partnership with community vigilante groups can produce positive results? When government fails to coordinate its affairs properly, individuals are forced to act independently, and such isolated efforts rarely produce lasting solutions.
*Are you saying that government is not cooperating with the people?*
If there is genuine cooperation between the government and the people, the issue becomes one of trust. If I am a chief or an elder statesman, I must be trustworthy. All hands must be on deck in the fight against corruption and insecurity. We must be accountable. We cannot continue to remain dormant.
*What about the healthcare system?*
Again, it comes down to proactiveness and trust. Government should provide attractive incentives for healthcare workers so they can perform effectively. Functional hospitals should be built in our communities across Ika South. There should also be quality schools, markets, roads, and other essential infrastructure to support healthcare workers and their families.
*Are you sure the government has enough funds to build functional hospitals in all the communities in Ika South?*
Our government is rich. If Nigeria were not rich, the country would have collapsed long ago. The resources exist to address our basic challenges.
There is money in Nigeria. There is money in Delta State. There is money in Ika South Local Government.
For Nigeria to progress, the government must be sincere, trustworthy, innovative, and accountable.
We abandoned agriculture, which was once the backbone of our economy, largely because of insecurity. We have fallen behind because we are neither accountable nor innovative.
If I had been elected into the Delta State House of Assembly, I planned to establish four industries in Ika South.
*What type of industries?*
I will not reveal them now. Those who truly want to know should come and meet me. Unless we work together in trust and sincerity, we cannot achieve success.
Government should place the welfare of the people above everything else. The right people must be elected into public office.
*What type of empowerment do you think is best for the people?*
People have been in power in Ika South for over twenty years. Many citizens have approached those in government with ideas that could improve the local government, but unfortunately those ideas were ignored. In the end, we continue to see poor results.
The type of empowerment commonly practised in Nigeria is, in my opinion, an insult to human dignity. If you are a senator or hold any public office and gather people together simply to distribute motorcycles, hair dryers, or generators, that is not empowerment. It diminishes their dignity.
Real empowerment is quality education and creating an enabling environment where people can succeed on their own.
If graduates cannot find jobs after completing their education, then our educational system has failed them. Even though I am a professor, I understand why many people say that education in Nigeria has become a scam.
I remember one of my former students at Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku. He worked as an okada rider throughout school to pay his fees. After graduation and completing the National Youth Service Corps programme, he returned home but could not find employment. He went back to riding an okada and eventually lost his life in an accident.
The government collected school fees from him and promised him a better future, but that promise was never fulfilled.
That is why many people describe education in Nigeria as a scam.
Public office holders have abandoned their core responsibilities and replaced them with so-called empowerment programmes.
Have you ever heard of politicians in Britain, China, or the United States organizing public gatherings simply to distribute motorcycles and generators as empowerment? Those programmes have not solved our problems. How many beneficiaries have truly become financially independent through them? Many eventually sell the items they receive.
To me, such empowerment programmes are an insult to human dignity.
*What’s the way forward?*
The NDC is the way forward.
*Does Peter Obi have a chance in the forthcoming 2027 presidential election?*
Yes, Peter Obi has a chance. If the right electoral process is maintained, I believe Peter Obi can emerge as Nigeria’s next President in 2027.
In Delta State, I believe the NDC can win elective positions across the state.
Within the NDC, we have leaders such as Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei, who is accountable and accessible. I am supporting Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei for the Delta North Senatorial seat. I am also supporting our House of Representatives candidate for Ika Federal Constituency, Mr. Emmanuel Nwachukwu Leonard (Bawo), and our House of Assembly candidate for Ika South Constituency, Mrs. Ogor Tony-Obuh.
The NDC is the hope for a new Nigeria.
*What is your message to the people of Ika South and Nigeria in general?*
My message is simple. People should actively participate in politics. They should obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and vote for the NDC in the next general election.
A vote for the NDC is a vote for progress, a vote for success, a vote for innovation, and a vote for the future of our children.
