Dr Chinedu Umeadi (Agunechemba) is a Consultant Psychiatrist based in Canada. He is the founder of Dr Chinedu Umeadi Foundation, an organization he has used to impact lives in Anambra through consistent interventions in education, business, healthcare etc.
Dr. Umeadi is a chieftain of YPP and was the Anambra Central Senatorial Candidate in the Feburary, 25 general election. The passionate politician bared his mind on the recent developments in the counter and sundry issues. Excerpts
Q: Nigeria is presently going through serious economic and sociopolitical challenges. As a leader, what advice would you give the leaders in power that will help tackle these challenges?
A: In addressing the problems faced by a complex nation like Nigeria, it is crucial to first identify the root causes of these challenges. In my opinion, the biggest issue in Nigeria is the poor management of resources. While no country has all the resources it needs for self-sustainability, successful nations have systems in place to effectively allocate and manage their scarce resources. Unfortunately, corruption hinders the equitable allocation and management of our resources. However, it seems that Anambra State is an exception to this. Our Governor, Prof Soludo, is doing an excellent job in resource management. There is no doubt that he has the capability to bring Anambra State to its rightful place. He simply needs the right team to work with and keep a close eye on them.
Q: Let’s look at the issue of restiveness particularly amongst the youths all over the country, from the North down to the South. What do you think is the problem and what can the government do to start solving these myriads of issues?
A: The restiveness among youths in Nigeria is primarily a result of a lack of equity and justice. When people feel marginalized, they naturally become agitated. There are concrete facts to support this claim. If we trade in meritocracy for nepotism, people will feel cheated and excluded, leading to revolts and unrest.
Q: Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, the only Senator of your party, the YPP, recently defected to the APC. What is your take on this as a major stakeholder in the party? Secondly, what ways can the culture of jumping from one political party to another be discouraged?
A: Every individual has the basic human right of freedom of association and freedom of disassociation. In line with these rights, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah has chosen to exercise his right to disassociate himself from the YPP and associate with the APC as a law-abiding Nigerian citizen. He is a knowledgeable and experienced politician and businessman who surely thought through his actions and made the decision that he believes is best for him and his followers. We in the YPP are saddened and disappointed by his departure, but we wish him well in his endeavors. As the YPP Anambra Central family, we are not ruffled by his departure. We have our unique ways of doing things and playing politics, as demonstrated during the general election, and we will continue on that path. It is important to note that in Nigeria, people’s choice of political parties is often driven by their personal interests rather than alignment with the party’s ideology.
Q: Let’s talk about the recent elections in Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa. It appears that people are becoming disenchanted with INEC. What could be done to rebuild the confidence Nigerians have in INEC?
A: Rebuilding the confidence Nigerians have in INEC is a challenging task. Nigerians are feeling battered and disheartened. As an eight-year-old during the 1983 general election, there was talk of conducting a free and fair election, but that did not happen. I closely followed the elections at the time due to my father’s involvement in politics and witnessed talks about massive irregularities and the need to prevent them from recurring. It has been 40 years since then, yet we find ourselves dealing with even more sophisticated and blatant irregularities. Technology has made so much possible and easy in today’s world, but we choose not to utilize it effectively in our electoral process. If those in power truly want to conduct free and fair elections, they have the capability to do so. My suspicion is that they maintain the status quo to continue manipulating the situation and system for their personal gain. Our leaders need to be more sincere and transparent in their actions in order to preserve our democracy.
Q: You were recently nominated as the Anambra Inspiring Leader of the Year, with the event taking place on the 29th of December. Why do you think the organizers chose you? What impact have you made that makes you deserving of this recognition?
A: The organizers are in the best position to answer why they chose me for the Anambra Inspiring Leader of the Year award. However, based on the theme of inspiring people, I believe it aligns with my overall approach to politics and giving back to society. My politics is centered around addressing issues without resorting to violence, yet maintaining firmness. Our programs, such as science quiz competitions, empowerment and poverty alleviation initiatives, health outreach programs, and scholarships, have all had a positive impact on the lives of the underprivileged. I believe these factors played a role in my nomination as the most inspiring leader of the year.
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