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How I stopped IBB from adding Onitsha to Delta State’ – GUO

How I stopped IBB from adding Onitsha to Delta State’ – GUO

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 Chief Godwin Ubaka Okeke, popularly known as GUO, is the Chairman, Board of Directors, G.U. Okeke & Sons Limited and G.U.Okeke Transport Services Limited. 



The transport mogul and businessman who recently celebrated his 76th birthday, spoke on the sidelines of the event, and bared his mind on issues of governance, the polity and life experiences. He particularly recalled the “coup” he led Onitsha business elite to successfully execute against the then military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, who planned cut Onitsha out from Anambra State and join it with Asaba to create Anioma State, with Asaba as capital. Enjoy the interview.


When you look at Nigeria today, how do you feel?



I am so disappointed that our nation is not doing well. Life was much better in the past when I was growing up and even when I started business. The exchange rate of the naira was good and the economy was booming. At that time it was easier, to a large extent, to plan your operations well because the exchange rate was stable and you could predict the cost of operations for one, two or three months ahead, because prices were relatively stable due to the stability of the exchange rate. Basic necessities of life were very affordable. The poor could find to eat. Today, even the people who are genuinely rich are not finding it easy. Corruption and bad leadership teamed up to destroy the economy. I do agree that external factors may have contributed a bit but if we had good leadership, then the leaders would have taken necessary proactive steps to shield the country from the impact of negative external factors.


It is a big shame that till today, when Nigeria is almost 65 years old since independence, our country still cannot generate up to 5000 megawatts of electricity, which is why you see generators everywhere, from the small Tiger generators which hairdressing and barbing salons use to the big diesel generators in the premises of companies, secretariats, universities, Government Houses and Aso Rock State House. The good educational system that produced my generation and others before us has broken down. That is why we now talk about cultism in universities. 


Like I said earlier, we squarely blame bad leadership and corruption for the state of the nation. That is why I am appealing to the media to strongly tell the entire society that all of us must stand up and protect the economy of Nigeria, starting from the Federal, State and Local government authorities including the civil service. I so much believe that Nigeria is a blessed country. God loves us so much that He gave us many things free, to get us moving. Unfortunately, some people are misusing these gifts, stealing and robbing the general public for their own selfish ends. We talk of people embezzling billions. We never heard that before, now we are moving into trillions being stolen. For how long are we going to keep quiet and these things will be going on?


Peter Obi suggested the other time to add firing squad and life imprisonment for those defrauding and stealing from government purse, including companies. That is the only solution that can save this country or else the whole economy will collapse. Look at China and the way they operate, they have all these things. You can’t steal and get away with it over there and I think it is only this harsh punishment that can deter people from corruption in Nigeria. Can you imagine that when politicians share rice, garri, beans and money during their campaigns, we clap for them? After that, our suffering continues with no good roads, security, no power, etc. 


How can industries survive under this atmosphere? Look at our higher institutions, before now, many people outside the country used to come to Nigeria to study as international students but today it is very rare to hear of such. The schools are not well equipped, hospitals are rotting away, and roads are deathtraps while factories are moving into other African countries. We have the power to vote people in and vote them out. Let the media help to educate the people on their rights.

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