How do you feel as a one-day governor in Abia State?
It was great, awesome and fulfilling: when you see yourself serving the people, doing their hearts’ desire and doing something to help humanity.
Did you ever think of winning the state essay competition?
At the beginning, no. Because I wasn’t the best student from the school. It was a coincidence. the organisers said they needed The three best students from the school, and I found myself among.
Thereafter, the three of us were subjected to written and oral tests, and the other two lost out and I was asked to represent the school. At the end of the last selection stage, my closest rival made a mistake somewhere and I knew her mistake was to my advantage.
At a point in the competition, I was so scared when I was asked to sing the second stanza of the National Anthem. I quickly perfected the areas I thought I was not too good at because I was scared of making mistakes.
Tell us about your encounter with Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.
My first encounter with the governor was at the executive chamber of the government house where I had a firm handshake with my “predecessor”, after which I was inaugurated as the governor, alongside my deputy and the SSG.
I need to say this, I took first position in the state competition, my deputy took second position and the SSG took third position, with 17 other participants who became my commissioners.
What were the things you did after taking over as the Governor of Abia State?
After presiding at the executive council, I quickly went out to inspect projects under construction like Agbama Road, which connects to Aba Road, and two other roads currently under construction. After the inspection, I was conducted round the government house. From there we went to the presidential lodge where I stayed until my tenure was over.
When I presided over the state executive council, issues on how to move the state forward as teenagers topped discussions. We initiated the Teens Support Abia (TSA), where we can support the government of the state in our own little ways and stop all the criticisms that are not true among teenagers.
We also declared December 12 as Teenagers Day in the state. The idea is that since we celebrate Fathers’ Day, Mothers’ Day and Childrens’ Day, then there is the need for a day for teenagers.
Also, before I handed over to my “successor”, we went to the School for the Destitute where I performed the foundation laying ceremony of the school and I encouraged them not to feel neglected as the state government had a robust plan for the destitute in the state.
Do you intend to join politics in future?
Sure. I am going into politics to serve the people. It’s fulfilling to see others happy because of what you are doing. When we got to Aba for the foundation laying ceremony, the excitement on the faces of the people was awesome. They were happy that the government had remembered the destitute in the society.
What will you like to study in the university?
I will like to study Law because I have a passion to help the less-privileged and I will also like to be a teens’ rights activist.
Where did you get those boys with sticks who acted as your security?
They were from the Police Academy in Aba and most of them are in primary school.
What is your advice to teenagers?
Believe in yourself, think big, have an organised plan for your life and spend quality time on your studies and support the government in your own little ways.
How do you feel now that you are back to school?
Mixed feelings, I will say. There is this part of me still feeling as a governor and the other part a student. Well, I feel normal. I am still a student and there are still stages in life to pass through before getting to be the real governor of the state.
After everything, the state government gave me scholarship for next term in the school and a cash prize.
