‘Why I want to be in Lagos Assembly’

He might be a political bigwig in the country but in his residence in Lagos, Mr. Jude Emeka Idimogu is a philan­thropist with a distinction, a humble man to a fault. He has decided to contest for Lagos State Assem­bly under the umbrella of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Oshodi- Isolo Constituency.

He is from Imo State but has lived in Lagos for long, hence the decision for aspiring to be a legislator in the state. In this inter­view, he speaks on various issues. Excerpts:


What prompted your aspiration to run for Lagos State Assembly?
I want to serve my community. They are in pain, all our representatives have failed to hear our cry. We are being deprived of a lot of things. It’s not the wherewithal but sometimes the will to do it; some of our representatives are so bad one can weep for us. But, by the special grace of God, if God gives me all the possibility to be there, I believe I will change lives positively for people. My lifestyle will make other politi­cians, who have been there before to have a re-think to understand that being there is to serve humanity and to serve God.
Don’t you think to serve your com­munity, there is no much to do from Lagos House of Assembly?
For now I want to take it from the grass roots; so I have decided to go for the Lagos House of Assembly from the grassroots; then from there, depending on how it goes, I will move forward. But for now, there is much to be done for this constituency, if you look at Oshodi/Isolo community, it will disgust you. Our roads are so bad that and is the major thing. The road is bad and the gridlock too much.
The many hours we lose in traffic is so much and these are the things I wonder and I look at it and weep. When you ask the representatives about the road, they will tell you it is federal road and state road. What’s the meaning of that? We are the people that use it, not the Federal or state government. These roads are meant for me and the people of our community, so most times, no matter how good your car is and you are taking bad roads, there is no way your car will not have problem and at the end of the day, you will go and visit the mechanic. When you look at the cost you incur on the road and because of the problem, your car will develop inconve­nience and a lot of time is wasted.
All these will spur disgust for the area. Investors will avoid our area. Yet our cost of living is high like every Lagosian but not enjoying same benefits. It’s not good enough for me. If we are exactly patriotic, it is not necessary that you tar the road; you may not really have money but you can find granite and level the road pending the time help comes from the federal or state govern­ment. As long as those in federal and state governments are also human beings, when they see that you have started to proffer a miniature solution to it, they will be urged to come with standard solution. They will feel ashamed that the people or community are challenging them. Before you know it, the help will come sooner than later.
Why do you think your representa­tives have not tried to help the com­munity?
Our representative is a-one man army. They think they can do it alone. They have forgotten that lobbying is politics. When you are in politics, you lobby because it is not you alone in the State House of Assem­bly. You are to be closer to other members and when you have your problem, you table it and lobby every member, including the speaker that your own needs are more important than others. They will allow you to have your way, depending on how you relate with others there. Everything is about relationship and lobbying and before you know it, you will gain more stability and what you want for your community and that is your bottom line.
There is a popular belief that Nigerian politics is about money and godfatherism. How do you see it?
For now, money partially runs politics in Nigeria. For me, my godfather is God. You must also have people that have been there before you, even in terms of money. They can encourage you, advise you and also help to give you a soft landing and to direct you. In everything, even in the world of politics, we have people that you naturally want them to direct you. You may call them god­fathers but in Nigeria, the godfathers that are being talked about are your financiers. If it is a godfather who finances me, I don’t have one. From experience, godfathers are people who will direct you the right way to follow, guide you towards success. Politics is an ide­ology that needs guidance. So, there is need for an advisor, not a financier. You know you can’t do it alone, you need elders around you; elders that will speak on your behalf to their associates and acquaintances. Such elders you come across by doing good and being hardworking. When they have seen your quality and your determination to really serve for the benefits of the people, you will definitely have it.
Why did you decide to run under the PDP umbrella?
For today, I represent PDP and the reasons are that PDP controls the centre and because All Progressives Congress (APC) has failed my constituency. The only way for me to make impact is from the opposition. I believe that PDP will make an impact in Lagos State in 2015. Among the people the APC has failed are the Igbo. The Igbo have been suffering under APC. They have been molested. In the history of the world, it was in Nigeria that a governor of a state decided to deport indigenes of another state.
Do you think you as an Igbo man will get your party’s mandate to con­test in the main election?
I don’t have a doubt. The problem we have in Nigerian politics is empty promises but I am happy after all that things are gradu­ally changing; people are asking questions. I don’t need to be boastful, people have started asking questions; who is that person, what is he made of? For us to move forward, if I get my party’s mandate, I will make it. I am not saying I will make it alone; a tree cannot make a forest. Most people say I am not part of them, yet, I am married to a beautiful wife from Yoruba land. What more do they need? I am the only son of my parents; despite that, I was allowed to marry my heartthrob be­cause I love her even though I had ambition to do politics in my hometown but suddenly my mind changed. I felt a stint in Lagos; I have lived in Lagos for the past 30 years and besides, we are all Nigerians and not only that, my wife is a daughter of the tribe. We need to forget tribal boundaries to move this country forward.