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Dr. Kema Chikwe, a top female politician served the Obasanjo administration as the first minister of aviation in his first term.
Dr. Kema Chikwe, a top female politician served the Obasanjo administration as the first minister of aviation in his first term. Although she is no longer in the cabinet, Mrs Chikwe, is very active in the politics of Imo state, her state of origin. Her involvement in the politics of the state, especially with 2007 around the corner has led to speculation that there is cold war brewing between her and some political big wigs in the state. What is actually the problem, when did it start and who are those behind the whole imbroglio? We sought to find out from her. Albert Akpor cornered Dr. Chikwe for her side of the story, and also her opinion on other topical political issues. Excerpts:
There seem to be a frosty relationship between you and some members of the PDP in your state , can you react to this?
You are correct, but the fact remains that I have no problem with anybody in my state not even my governor. All I can say is that there is a perceived hatred and that has been on from the inception. My governor said he did not nominate me for the ministerial appointment and that is why I am always painted in the light that I am not. He said I am undermining him, but I don't know how. There have been mobilization against me just to smear me, but I can tell you that it does not go down well with the majority of the people in this state. A concerted effort is constantly being made to use a clique of people against me because not every body will accept to be used for such dirty job; to smear an innocent hard working woman who has paid her dues. Not too many people will accept that job. And again don't forget that I came in as a politician. I am a politician to the core. I think a situation where you are not expected to hold meetings, meet with people even in your community is regarded as undermining.
I have served as a minister, even before then I was a member of the first executives of PDP and yet I do not qualify to recommend people for appointments. So, if I were a man I don't think all these would be happening to me. I don't think my governor is going to fight Fabian Osuji if he were to recommend anybody for appointment. He sent people in his ministry on visitation panel and the governor did not make any noise about it. So I think what he is fighting is my gender, I have come to conclude that. But again I think the intrigue is an unreasonable one, and from what I have seen those who are used to blackmail me are not noble and I can assure you that I have followership in this state and people in my state love me.
Would you contest the 2007 gubernatorial election in your state if called by the people?
I don't believe in people calling me to come and serve. I don't believe in that at all. But if I see myself believing in something I am interested in doing, why not. And again, I don't know what my governor mean by I am undermining him. All they are doing is pure blackmail, they are reacting to the fact that I supported about two appointments. So who am I, I am not a human being to support anybody in any appointments because they have their own nominations or they want to nominate themselves, I don't know. Also they are reacting to the fact that I support strongly the President's agenda, that is another crime.
I think what they want is that I have served the President he should never listen to me, and if the President alienates me the same people will say I am a bad person. Now if I have served for somebody for four years and he has not alienated me it means I am not a bad person. And if for anything the President commended me while in office and even after, he has publicly done that and that is the crux of the whole matter. And back to whether people calling me to serve or not, like I told you, for now I try to align myself with the President's policies.
Presently the President says his major focus is to fulfil his programs, he has not started talking politics about contesting or not contesting any elections; and that is my stand. Any assistance I can give formally or informally for the President's programs I will continue to do that until the time for declaring interest comes and then also I have to look into certain things and find out if its worth it. But if its whether I am qualified to contest I am eminently qualified but I am not thinking about that for now because I don't want to distracted from the mainstream of the President's agenda, I mean his development programs.