By PETER ANOSIKE

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Apena Ward, Oshodi-Isolo Federal Constituency 2, Engr. Tope Noah, has said that Prince Nixon Okwara has the organic support to win the elusive Federal House of Representative election in Oshodi-Isolo constituency 2 for the APC.

Speaking in an interview with News Express, the construction and project engineer with Reiz Conglomerates said that he is on ground in the politics of the federal constituency and that the bitter truth is, If APC makes a mistake and give the ticket to a Yoruba man, the party would like in 2023 lose the federal house of representative Oshodi-lsolo constituency 2 election to a rival party.

According to him, the indigenes should move beyond ethnicity and sentiment to face the reality, which is that Igbos constitute over 80 per cent of the residents of the federal constituency and as such should be given the party ticket.

In this interview, he also spoke on other issues. Excerpts:

Why are you supporting prince Nixon Okwara to emerge as the APC candidate for Federal house of representative Oshodi-lsolo constituency 2?

I have known Prince Nixon Okwara for more than 20 years. He is my personal friend. But the main reason why I am supporting him is because of his track record, his transparency to governance and commitment to community development. You would recall, he was the Chairman of Greenfield estate where he won the award as the best CDA chairman in Lagos State under Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola administration in 2014. So, in leadership he has been tested and found worthy. Among all the aspirants, he is the only person that has the capacity to win the constituency for our great party, the APC and also contribute immensely in the other elections like presidential and governorship elections in the state, because of his popularity and acceptance among his kinsmen the Igbos, who constitute the largest population in the constituency.

Please can you tell us more why you said that prince Okwara is the only person among the aspirants that can help your party to win the presidential and governorship elections in Oshodi Isolo Federal Constituency 2?

If prince Nixon Okwara gets our party ticket and becomes our candidate for the federal house of representative in Oshodi-lsolo Federal constituency 2, this will make him to be in the campaign train of president Tinubu's re-election and that of Dr Obafemi Hamzat. He will use his influence among his lgbo brothers and sisters to bring on board almost the Igbos in the constituency. All lgbo stakeholders are with him. From Ohanaze Indigbo to all the CDAs in Ago, Okota, Ajao Estate, Ejigbo. All of them are supporting him and they have also assured him that if my party APC gives him the ticket, they will all support president Tinubu's re-election bid and also support Dr Obafemi Hamzat to become the next governor of Lagos state. I repeat, all the lgbo stakeholders in this constituency are prince Nixon's organic supporters. In fact, he is even the founder and president of Igbo Stakeholders Forum in Lagos State as a whole.

What are the challenges facing your constituency which you expect the incoming MHR to solve?

Some of our major challenges include the issues of flooding. There is perennial flood anytime it rains particularly in Ago. The environment is lower than the sea level or canal and as such the flooding is not what can be handled through self-help as has always been the case but a good representation in National Assembly could help solve this problem. Prince Okwara shared with me his plan to solve this flooding menace in the community. So, he already has a strategy to solve it and other environment degradation including, indiscriminate dumping of refuse on our major roads in the constituency. He will use his influence in the national assembly and presidency to solve the challenges facing us and bring succor to all our people. Another challenge is the issue of empowerment. We need to have our youth empowered, get them decent jobs, provide them technical skills among others. These and many more are what I am sure that prince Okwara will do when he gets there.

Are you so confident that Prince Okwara will win the election if your party APC gives him the ticket?

I am very confident In fact, the challenge is not winning the election but getting the ticket. As soon as he gets the APC ticket, he has won the election. Ask yourself, who are the candidates of other parties. They are not on ground. Prince Nixon has no competition. He will dwarf all other candidates My people, the Yorubas are with him, all the lgbos and other non-indigenes are with him. He will win with a margin never seen before in Lagos State politics because of his popularity and acceptance. Mark my words!”

What do you have to say about your party primaries coming up in a couple of days?

Our party APC primaries for all levels will be transparent, free, fair and credible. My candidate, Prince Nixon Okwara will come out victorious. He will be our candidate for Federal House of Representatives Oshodi-lsolo Constituency 2. I want to say without fear of contradiction that only Prince Okwara can win all elections for us in this Oshodi Isolo Federal Constituency 2. If my party, APC mistakenly gives the ticket to a Yoruba man, the party will lose the federal house of representative Oshodi-lsolo Federal Constituency 2 election to the other rival party. That is the bitter truth. I am on ground. We should not make the mistake!”