Hon. Patty Etete-Ineme, a former member representing Ikot Ekpene Federal Constituency at the lower legislative chamber of the National Assembly is currently the State Co-ordinator of the Akwa Ibom State Chapter of Arise Nigeria, a socio-political group that is promoting the rule of law and democracy. In this interview, he talks on the group’s mandate of supporting President Goodluck Jonathan for a second-term in 2015 and other sundry issues. Excerpts.
You have been given the enormous task of leading the Akwa Ibom State Chapter of Arise Nigeria. How does this make you feel? How prepared and equipped are you to face the task?
Yes, I have been given a task to synergize and mobilize supporters of President Goodluck Jonathan in Akwa Ibom State ahead of the 2015 campaigns and general elections. I feel highly honoured, humbled and fortunate for this opportunity to organize and contribute my quota to nation building. And I and my team are fully prepared for the enormous task ahead; as we speak, we have already laid in-roads into every nook and cranny of the state.
What is Arise Nigeria all about, what does it entails and what are its contributions to the society?
Arise Nigeria is a socio-political organization that was founded in 2007. The organization is primarily committed to good governance, credible elections, due process and rule of law, defense of democracy in Nigeria and the assessment of operations both at the executive and legislative levels.
Since its birth, the group has been very supportive of the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan and his transformation agenda.
Does this imply that the organization is deeply rooted and basically committed to supporting President Goodluck Jonathan achieve his political ambition?
Democracy has to do with credible elections, rule of law and good governance. It is no gainsaying that Mr. President has in all ramifications proven to be a true democrat, and when one looks at the fact that he has gradually grown from being a deputy governor, a governor, vice president, acting president before metamorphosing into an elected president, it is just a matter of patriotic necessity that all hands must be on deck to give him the needed support so that Nigerians can in no time reap the much-talked about and elusive dividends of democracy.
On this premise, one can boldly say that Arise Nigeria is not in its entirety a political pressure group. In as much as we do not close our eyes on political issues, we also pay a greater attention to issues that border on youth and women empowerment, fairness, equity and justice to and among all Nigerians. This is one of the most civilized ways even in other climes that anyone can support the government and encourage the people to be part of good governance.
And don’t forget the political axiom that ‘Democracy is a government of the people by the people and for the people’. So when one sincerely considers such a postulation among several others, you are left with no other honest option than to willingly join the many other hands on deck to move the government forward. And here again, the best and viable option is by supporting Mr. President, being an active part of the second-term dream, and working assiduously to ensure his subsequent re-election into office for another term in 2015.
Therefore, in summary, Arise Nigeria, rightly put is a 774-kilometer long and 37-kilometre wide bridge between the government and the people. The numbers are very significant; 774 because of the number of local government areas, and 37, because of the number of states and the federal capital territory in the country.
Apart from Mr. President, Is there any other individual or organization that your group is supporting or is it entirely a Jonathan -affair?
For now on the political terrain, and in the build-up to the 2015 general elections, we are synergizing with select pro-democracy groups in the country. In every nook and cranny of the country, the national
secretariat is holding several symposia, workshop and seminar. This has been an on-going exercise started way back 2010 across the six geo-political zones. And at all times with the singular and primary
objective of educating, sensitizing and re-orientating Nigerians on how to vote for their rightful and choice candidates based principally on the platform of One-Man, One-Vote. So this is not entirely a Jonathan-Jonathan affair back to back. It has to do with democracy and protection and sustenance of democratic values. We are a pro-democracy group; we support and encourage Mr. President and others like him to succeed. It is only in democracy that one has the freedom of expression, association and even the freedom to be in the opposition, where credible and positive criticisms of government policies are most welcome. So Arise Nigeria as the name implies is a wakeup call for Nigerians to imbibe the true principles and tenets of democracy.
But coming back home to Akwa Ibom State, we equally have another mandate of ensuring that our performing Governor, His Excellency, Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio transmits to represent his senatorial district, that is Ikot Ekpene at the upper legislative chamber of the national assembly come 2015. The reasons for this are not far-fetched; you would without any bias agree with me that in all ramifications, he has done exceedingly well. The senatorial district needs him at that level of legislative politicking, and the state, nay the entire country will be favourably disposed to tap from his wealth of experience so far in governance.
So, it would not be out of place, if we say that, the AKS chapter of Arise Nigeria has a dual mandate of being part and parcel of deciding the political future of these two great sons of ours.
What are your strategies towards ensuring that you actualize these goals of yours at the 2015 general elections?
At the national vis-à-vis the state levels, the organization has already instituted an intensive work-plan that covers every length and breadth of the country. We are everywhere; we are not resting on our oars; sensitizing our people to support democracy, rule of law and urging them to come out and vote for their leaders when the time comes is no easy task; but we are not discouraged despite the enormous challenges that normally stare such gargantuan projects in the face.
The most important thing is that we have resolved to succeed and that we will do.
Day in day out, more people, not necessarily politicians are calling to lend their support to what we are doing. A good percentage is equally giving kudos to Mr. President for the recent visible dividends of democracy. There are evidences of an improved and massive infrastructural facilities, electricity generation and distribution has gone up from about 2,200 Mw to about 4,500 Mw in recent times, there is improvement in the railway system, the road network is being attended to and the results are visible, the airports nationwide are being gradually given a new look. These and many more are all part of the transformation agenda. And with all these, no one, not even the opposition, can successfully deceive the people any longer.
Are we not seeing a mini PDP in Arise Nigeria?
We are a group of Nigerians who are patriotic and collectively committed in supporting the President’s Transformation agenda since he came in 2010.
Our core and identifiable value is portrayed in our quest in seeing this country move forward. This is further buttressed by our slogan which most aptly says ‘Get involved and stop complaining”.
This has always been our plea with Nigerians, stop the bickering and join the transformation train. So it is not a case of being a mini PDP. Our diversity is impressive, from Sokoto to Lagos, Maiduguri to Uyo, Asaba to Yola, Kano to Aba and in every nook and cranny of the country; it would be most un-Nigerian if anyone decides to settle for less.
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