Exclusive: Stella Oduah explains what really happened at NASS

A former aviation minister, Senator Stella Oduah, representing Anambra North senatorial district, has revealed what took place at the caucus meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the National Assembly, during the early hours of the evening on Monday, May 16. 

According to Premium Times, there were exchange of blows between the senator and Sopuluchukwu Ezeonwuka, a member of the House of Representative from Orumba North/South federal constituency in Anambra state. The meeting was held over their party’s ongoing congresses across the country.

In this exclusive interview with Chinenye Ugonna, NAIJ.com’s National Assembly correspondent, Oduah said the incident never happened. Although she admitted that there was a disagreement during the meeting, but, she said, it never resulted to exchange of blows.

The senator also spoke on her plans for the national convention, her candidates and her plans for Anambra North senatorial district.

Read and watch the excerpts of the interview below.

It was reported that fighting broke out between you and a House of Rep member, Sophuluchuwu Ezeonwuka at the meeting of the PDP National Assembly caucus, is this true?

It’s a lie. A complete lie.

What exactly happened in that meeting?

We had a disagreement on a particular subject matter and usually when you have such a forum, you agree to disagree and sometimes in the course of that, words will be exchanged and people reveal their opinions. That’s really what politics is all about. You discuss and ensure that your opinion is made clear and everybody wants to be heard. So essentially that’s what happened. And I cannot imagine legislators fighting just because they disagree. It never happened and it could not have happened.

In his remarks with Premium Times, Mr Sopuluchukwu called you a weak politician. What do you have to say about this?

I actually do not recognize individuals. I am aware he did not contest election. I don’t know how an individual who probably in his lifetime has not contested an election can determine who is weak and who is not weak. My local government is seven in number and I won in all the local governments. I contested and I spent mostly two years going from one community to another. So for anybody who was never been on the field to know who was strong and who wasn’t. I don’t know how we can determine that. Like I said to him which was the point in contention, I said if you do not contest, then you lack the moral ground to discuss about that constituency because it’s not you they voted for. You are just an imposition on the people and that’s my point and I have no apologies for that at all.

READ ALSO: Drama in NASS as PDP lawmakers trade blows over positions

What are your preparations for the national convention?

I think the party is ready. It’s clear that the party is much stronger than it used to be and in the midst of all this crisis, disagreement and agreement, to still be talking about the convention and candidates, I think that means that people can have disagreement in principle but at the same time we have common interest and that interest is what PDP is all about. It’s the party of the people.

Who are your candidates?

Well, Sheriff is my candidate. I have no apologies for that. I pray he emerges as the chairman. I think he will do the party a lot of good.

Why is he your candidate?

His organisational skill is wonderful. He is a good orator. I think he is patient and he means well for the party and with no special interest at all but the fact that he will like to have a one big PDP party where people with different inspirations and aspirations can actualize that. I think it’s big. He does not believe in the fact that you are a southerner or a northerner, he believes it’s just one big Nigeria and we must make it work. So for that, I will vote for him and canvass for him.

What are your plans for Anambra North?

I wish to make it better. Bring in focus on rural development, particularly women and youth. Anambra North is a very poor zone, extremely poor. We are majorly fishermen and farmers. So refocusing on that and ensuring that we leverage on that skill is what will be my major focus. So we are going to start empowerment very soon. Those that are already in school, we will increase the number and we will go hand in cap begging for employment for those who need employment. But majorly need to make themselves independent where they can fend for themselves.

The last time NAIJ.com had an interview with you, you spoke about empowering women to go into politics. Have you been able to do anything about that?

Currently, we have Ladies Vanguard and that’s a metering group for women particularly those that are matured but single to recognise the fact that gender should not be an issue. The marital status should not be an issue for then and they should actually look at skill. It should be optional for them whichever route they decide to take but their major focus should be on self development. How can we get them to believe in themselves and be able to know that whatever they want to do and what their vision is. No hindrance should he deterrent for them accomplishing that. I want to mentor and encourage them to be the best they can be.

READ ALSO: Stella Oduah opens up on N255m BMW scandal

How are you pushing the inland waterway bill for Onitsha. Are you getting support from colleagues?

Everyone is in support of it because it is the right way to go. Onitsha economy is huge. It is 6.9 billion daily turnover but it’s landlocked and there are other zones that are landlocked. But because this is a commerce centre, to open the economy means that there must have an inland terminal. The accident rate has increased over the years, the roads are bad and so they don’t have to go to Lagos and Port Harcourt to claim their access. They will have access to international markets. When that happens, the economy will really grow in a very accelerated form and that’s what I want to have accomplished for them.

You once said that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members are not getting the best in terms of welfare and prospects for the future, how best do you think the system can be better managed?

For anybody who has gone through NYSC, or going through NYSC, there should be a take home. There should be something they will say this one year service to my nation, at the end, this is what is in it for me. By extension, it also benefits to the nation and that will be skill acquisition. What can they get from NYSC. I think NYSC should focus on that. Now if you want them to be military reserve personnel then train them like they do in the United states. But they should not spend one year without acquiring skills. I think they should ensure that happens. I also think that their camps, accommodations etc are horrible and we must improve on that because it discourages them. Instead of staying together where they are supposed to be, they go elsewhere and you can’t blame them. My take is that the new DG needs to sit down and develop a master plan. His focus will be human development. How can this NYSC make sense? In the past, it used to be for orientation, for people to understand their nation but towards what extent. Something else has to be there that is substantial that will help them. So you can call it a funnel that every graduate when they leave NYSC with their certificate, they are skilled in different ways. It could be ICT, trading, farming, it could be anything but they should come out with something. I think it will be worth the while if that happens.

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