May we meet you, Sir?
My Name is Engr. Erasmus Anike, I am from Ibegwa-Nike in your Enugu East local government of Enugu state. I am a Mechanical Engineer by profession. I studied Mechanical Engineering at the University of Nigeria Nsukka. I attended Community Primary School Amorji-Nike and did my secondary Education at National Grammar School Nike. Currently, I am a businessman; I am based in South Africa and also in Nigeria. I do real estate business in South Africa and in Nigeria. I develop properties and I have interest in coming down to Nigeria to serve our people.
Why do you want to be Governor of Enugu state?
I have bought the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, 2023 governorship nomination form for Enugu state. I’ve been a member of the party for a good number of years and the reason is that it has been giving me concern that our people need to be uplifted. I want our people to be uplifted in many areas, including improvement of their lives in terms of electricity supply, security, good water supply, sanitation and refuse disposal and every other aspect of life such as good roads that people need to have in the society; Enugu people deserve them. Enugu people need a health system that is workable, we need employment and these are the things I’m coming up with. I want to be the governor of Enugu state by taking the state to different steps in various aspects of their lives. The present government has done a good job, but these things need to be improved upon, they need to be continued on. We praise them for what they have done but more needs to be done.
Are you aware of the zoning arguments in Enugu state?
I am aware of zoning in Enugu state which is for equity, justice and fairness. The PDP has adopted rotational power sharing in Enugu state and it has gone through the East to the West and the North and it’s coming back to the East now. In Enugu East senatorial zone, it is our chance to produce somebody that will represent PDP in the 2023 election and we have been agitating for that but we put everything in the hands of the leadership of the Party, believing that they will do the right thing. For some time, zoning has brought peace and unity among party members. Zoning to me is very good because instead of antagonism, it will bring peace and unity among us in PDP and if peace exists, then the government will be smooth and progress instead of fighting.
Are you also aware of micro-zoning, ‘core and peripheral Nkanu’ agitations within Enugu East senatorial zone?
We have trust that Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi will do the right thing. We are the Nkanu people and Nike is the eldest of Nkanu. No Nike person has held the position of Governor or deputy governor and I think it is time they give us that chance. Another thing is that Nike as a community in Enugu senatorial district East has sacrificed a lot to the government of Enugu state, to the government of old Anambra state, to the government of East Central state and Eastern Region. One thing that we have is our land and if you check vividly, you will find out that it was the land of Nike people that were given out to the governments to build various facilities such as the government house, the stadium, Ogbete main market, University of Nigeria Enugu Campus, Nike lake Resort Hotel, the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, all these things are in our land and we gave them out because of our love for the state and I believe that the state should also consider that and reciprocate our love governance.
Do you think that you have the needed experience to become Governor?
Leadership is bestowed by God. Even if I don’t have vast experience in politics, it starts one day but what is more important is that I am coming with an open heart, with honesty and integrity. I have vast experience in my line of endeavor. I deal with people and the way I handle people in other areas of my endeavor is the same way I will do in governance because I cherish my people, the people of Enugu state, the most.
What do you consider as your edge above other aspirants?
My edge above others contesting alongside me is the edge of integrity and honesty and open heartedness. That is my edge over others.
What will be your solution to corruption?
Corruption is not good for governments in any part of the world. Corruption is a cankerworm that eats into our success and that must be fought with vigor. What I am promising is that given the chance, I will be an example of a government without corruption because people emulate you, particularly those under you, and if the head is corrupt, it brings down the success of a government. So, I will fight corruption using the necessary arms of the government.
