- Idimogu
For
SIR JUDE EMEKA IDIMOGU, seeking to represent Oshodi/Isolo State Constituency 11
in Lagos State might be an uphill task but he is convinced he has all it takes
to get victory for the PDP. He spoke with Rommy Igboanugo-Imah….
Can
we meet you sir?
My
name is Sir Jude Emeka Idimogu better known as Mr. Abundance. I hail from
Ihitte Uboma Local Government Area of Imo State. I am happily married to a
beautiful lady from the very popular Kuku family, Ijebu Ode by name Lady Rose
Enitan Idumogu, nee Kuku. I am a Chartered Accountant by profession; I have a
BSc Accounting from Ambrose Alli University; HND in Accounting from Yaba
College of Technology. I am also a member of Chartered Institute of Taxation of
Nigeria, CITN. Right now, I am the 1st Vice Chairman of Bureau de Change
Operators of Nigeria; I am also the 1st Vice Chairman of Canal
Community Development Area for the past
seven to eight years. I am also a
Knight of the Catholic Church- Knight of St. Mulumba.
I
have lived in Lagos over 25 years now; it was here I met my lovely wife. It has
always been my desire to work for my community even though I know I had no
plans to vie for political office in Lagos before now. All my political
activities have been in Imo State. I worked for Goodluck Jonathan in 2011, I
was the coordinator for Okigwe Senatorial Zone. And so when this political
dispensation came up, I showed interest, went through the primaries of the PDP
and emerged victorious. Today, by the special grace of God, I am the candidate
of the party for the Lagos State House of Assembly for Oshodi/Isolo
Constituency 2. I am happy and I am believing God that whatever He has started,
He will see to completion.
What
actually inspired you into going for this position?
I
discovered that first, I came to Lagos and completed my secondary school
education at Methodist Boys High School, Lagos. I forgot to tell you that I got
my MBA (Marketing) at Lagos State University, Ojo Campus. I have spent time
living here in Lagos and coupled with a good number of friends from Western
Nigeria that I have around me, I have this confidence that I can make a
breakthrough. Don’t forget too that my wife is Yoruba, and from one of the
popular families in Yorubaland. Besides, I am known more here in Lagos because
of the community work I have been doing. Before I ventured into politics, I
have been well known in my environment. With my wife, I am partly a Yoruba man;
and all my children were born here in Lagos, and they all bear Yoruba names. In
2010, I used my personal money to build this road you are seeing here. I have a
house here so I need to build this road to create access to my house and that
of other neighbours. I have helped in grading of roads here and other community
projects. And my neighbourhood seems to appreciate that.
Would
it be wrong to say that you were getting involved in all these community
projects because you have an eye in political office?
No,
I never thought about that. I see myself living in an environment where I am in
a position to help out in its development. I live in this environment and so I
am expected to contribute to its development at least for the sake of
posterity. If you live in an environment that requires you partake in its
development, there is need for you to be part of it; forget the reward. After
all, life is about service and doing something positive. There is nothing
greater than doing a good job; don’t look for reward immediately. I am
surprised at the magnitude of love I am getting from the people irrespective of
the fact that I am not originally Yoruba. They appreciate the little I’ve done
and believe that if given the opportunity, I will do more. And that is why they
want me to go and represent them in the House.
Was
it a personal decision you took to join this race or you were persuaded by
people who saw the philanthropist in you?
Yes,
people have been seeing me on TV doing financial and economic analysis; they
always come to me asking for to know one thing or the other. And for that
reason, they see in me a well grounded person on management and economic
matters. Many of them believe I can do so well in public service. So, beyond
personal decision and conviction, there is this belief by people around me that
I can do it, that I should go and do it for them.
What
kind of challenges did you face during the primaries considering the fact that
you are a non-indigene?
It
was quite a difficult experience I had. You know that managing and trusting
human beings is quite difficult. And again, you know I am living in an
environment dominated by my Western brothers. Primaries have to do with
delegates; and out of the 37 delegates, only three were Igbos, the remaining 34
were Yorubas. So, how do you beat this?
For
me, God comes first but outside God, I believe in hard work; I believe there is
nothing impossible. And with the support of my lovely wife, wherever we are
going, we go together. When most of the party elders saw the efforts I was
making, they were holding several meetings. They said they have been giving
tickets to indigenes but nothing has come out of that, why don’t we try a
non-indigene this time? And this man has been taking good care of our sister;
if we can’t get him, we get him through our sister. And so with prayer and hard
work, I came out victorious. We were four that contested but I eventually came
tops after a tie the first day. But my brother, it wasn’t easy.
How
were you able to battle the issue of ethnic sentiments before emerging as the
party’s flag bearer?
First
thing is that you have to be open to people no matter where you find yourself;
associate with them, don’t discriminate. Make sure anything you can do for a community,
go there and do it irrespective of where you are coming from and expect your
reward from God, not from man. Be kind to people. However, I believe in the
power of God; what you think cannot happen, can happen. Some people said I
shouldn’t be wasting my money, that it cannot work. But I do not share that
sentiment with them. I am focused and is convinced that I will make it. I have
not limited my campaigns to my constituency alone; I have been campaigning even
in the second constituency; I reach out to everybody trusting God that it will
happen.
You
are contesting in an APC controlled state, what gives you this confidence that
you can win this election?
One,
I believe in the power of God, and I believe that there is nothing that is
impossible. I also believe that with the Igbos, non-indigenes, my wife and my
Yoruba friends, I will get at least 60% of the votes to give me victory. These
days people do not look at parties, they look at personalities. You can’t
believe the kind of support am getting from my friends who are APC members. If
you come to this my constituency, you notice that if you go to Okota, it is
dominated by Igbos; you go to Ajao Estate, 80% are Igbos; this side (Oke Afa),
we are more. Ejigbo is another area I have an edge. And as I always tell them,
for the first time, irrespective of party affiliation, they are having the best
candidate in me.
As
a Knight of the Catholic Church, are you going to use the Church for your
campaigns bearing in mind that a lot of Igbos around your constituency are
Catholics?
It’s
like in a football match where you have your home advantage. Already, I have
made name in the Catholic Church even though the Church might not come out
openly to declare support for me for fear of being accused of meddling into politics.
But the truth is that I am their member, and they will support me as a member.
And don’t forget that they are equally praying for me.
What
do you think are the chances of PDP in Lagos State?
PDP
has a very strong chance in Lagos State; in fact, it is in the ratio of 60% for
PDP and 40% for the rest of the parties. The greatest thing PDP has done in my
own opinion is the presentation of Jimi Agbaje as our governorship candidate. I
think the elders of the party have done the right thing by presenting Agbaje as
the guber candidate of our party. The party is witnessing tremendous numerical
growth as many support groups are joining the party.
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