From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The immediate past Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ISOPADEC), Charles Orie, has argued that the passing on of President Bola Tinubu in a London Clinic does not question the functionality of Nigeria’s healthcare system. Also, contrary to speculations that the country’s economy is literally in the Intensive Care Unit, he said President Bola Tinubu remained committed to revamping the economy through novel initiatives. Orie, who is from an oil producing region, condemned the wave of oil bunkering. On the formation of the coalition ahead of the 2027 polls, he dismissed the momentum, stating that in due time, the ADC would fall like a pack of cards.
How do we tackle oil bunkering?
As it concerns my state, Imo, and other states at large, oil bunkering has reduced drastically under this administration of President Bola Tinubu. We are all Nigerians. Before this administration came into power, Nigeria was producing below 900,000 barrels. We were not meeting our OPEC quota of 2.3 million barrels every month. But now we are meeting our quota. We are producing more than 2 million barrels monthly now. That means that the bunkering you mentioned is coming down. And the government is doing everything also to make sure they eradicate bunkering. It is a very bad thing. It is only Nigeria people do bunkering. In Saudi Arabia, so many other countries that produce oil. People do not go around breaking pipelines to steal oil. It’s an economist sabotage. But believe you me, it is coming down. But the government is still doing everything possible to bring it to zero level.
Most people believe that the negligence of oil companies to carry out corporate social responsibility is what is fueling pipeline vandalism. How do we ensure that these firm keep to their side of the bargain?
So, corporate social responsibility is also a factor. When most oil companies do not keep their terms of agreement in their employment quota, it is a problem. In fact, the system is neutralized, where indigenous cannot speak up. The system we run today is the presidential system of government. We are the center, have everything. But if we run the federated system, we are the regions. We take care of their resource and pay tax to the federal government. So, the problem of under development in the Niger data, I can say it is attributed to the system of Nigerian government. Those oil companies, like where I come from, in Imo State, if you try to talk to them, they will tell you they have paid everything to the federal government. All the taxes for development, social responsibility, whatever they have paid. So, they expect the federal government to be the one to provide roads and essential services to the oil producing communities. There is nothing they can do. That is how the system is. The highest they can do is to build small primary schools, maybe maternity, all those nonsense projects. The system runs that way until we change our constitution, where we allow the regions to develop at their own pace, and allow them to pay tax to the federal government. The federal government does not need much. The region, the state and local government need development. But the system in Nigeria allows the federal government to be in charge of any mineral resources anywhere in Nigeria.
Let us look at Egbema. Egbema shares a boundary between Rivers and Imo. Where are you from?
I am from Imo State. Egbema has 11 communities. To my knowledge, 8 communities are in Imo State because of the boundary adjustment after the civil war. So those 3 communities, if they are in the position of state today, they will come back to Imo because they are Imo people. Their tradition, their culture, everything is Imo tradition. So they are our brothers. We have a relationship with them until tomorrow we maintain it.
The death of President Muhammadu Buhari, has sent shockwaves and questioned the functionality of the country’s healthcare system. What is your take?
Let me talk about our healthcare system or where anybody should die or where anybody can die. Nobody knows where they are going to die. Buhari is not president. Buhari is not the first Nigerian that died overseas. He was sick. He went abroad. His personal physician might have been in London. And he died in London. It does not mean that he should have died in Daura or anywhere in Nigeria. No. People die wherever they go. So, we are not going to judge him based on the fact that he died in London. A lot of Nigerians, both big men, both poor and rich will die. Former president was ill and he was in London. Do you mean that when he wants to die, he should come to Nigeria and die? No. We die when death comes. And anybody can die anywhere. Some British people are too in Nigeria on vacation or they have businesses. They die here too. It is God’s decision for people to die anywhere they want to die at any time. Our healthcare system, I do not think it is the worst in the world. It is work in progress. The government is doing something. We are upgrading our health system with time. We are going to get there. It is a problem we have in Nigeria. People want Nigeria to just grow like UK or America overnight. This takes time. To build infrastructure takes time. To build the best state of the art hospital takes time. But we are getting there. We have some. We have a lot of good hospitals in Nigeria too. We have the best doctors in Nigeria. But it is a work in progress. Talking about immortalizing his name. I do not want to join that discussion. It is the prerogative of the president to do whatever he wants. The constitution gave him the power to do what he did.
There is this push for a coalition to unseat the president or to dislodge the APC. As the chieftain of the APC, does that worry you?
No, I am not bothered. I believe in equity. We said the north will do 8 years. Buhari did it. The power must come back to the south. They should allow us to finish in 8 years. President Tinubu is doing a lot of reform. When he came, our foreign reserve was $3 billion or less. Now our foreign reserve is above $40 billion. He has paid a lot of debt. The money we owe in Paris Club, he has cleared them. So many things he is doing. A lot of reform going on here and there. The people should allow him to have a breathing space to finish his first tenure. We are going to vote him. These people are just noisemakers. Today they leave APC. They join PDP. That is not politics. If you are a politician, you stay in one place. Nigeria is not like America. Democrats do no leave Democrats to run to Republicans and run back to Democrats. Stay where you are and find your feet. Build your party. Build your position. You do not leave parties running around because you want to be president. They might have done well. I am a Southerner. There is the logic there that a Southerner must do 8 years, after that the power can come back to the north. So let them allow him to finish his four years and do another four years.
So you’re not worried by the coalition?
No. These are jokers. All of them will come back to APC next time.
How do we address youth restlessness?
The governors are doing a lot. My state is a case study. My governor is doing a lot. A lot of training for youth empowerment and so on. It is not like within the time I was the head of ISOPADEC. My local government is a no-go area. But as soon as I took over ISOPADEC, till I left there four years, there was no restlessness anywhere. In the oil producing local government till today because the youth are busy. We engaged them in so many things. The other Niger Delta governors are doing their best. Government do not create jobs. Government give enablement for people to create jobs. Businessmen create jobs. So things are picking up and unemployment is going down nationwide. It takes time. The economy is picking up. When the economy is good, banks can give facilities to businessmen to do their businesses. And businessmen can create employment. It is a work in progress. I keep telling you that building infrastructure takes time. Infrastructure takes years to build. Even in Europe or America, they are still building infrastructure every year. What we are doing now is to improve on what we have. Government is doing their best. They need to do more. But it is not as bad as people think. The economy will pick. You can see the dollar is being appreciated in the world market. Things are moving. The government in question is moving in the right direction.
You served as the MD of ISOPADEC. What were your achievements during your tenure?
When His Excellency appointed me as the managing director, many people doubted I would succeed — but with his support, we proved them wrong. Within my first 100 days, we commissioned over 40 projects across the oil-producing LGAs. In Akri, Oguta LGA, we built a new primary school, a health center, police station, and installed solar street lights. In Ngor-Okpala, we constructed a health center and two solar boreholes. Ohaji/Egbema saw major renovations of health centers, water projects, and solar lighting. We later completed three 20-bed modern general hospitals — at Omuma (Oru East), Oguta, and Umuokenne (Ohaji/Egbema). These hospitals are fully equipped with world-class medical equipment. We also built a brand-new concrete bridge in Oguta LGA at Senator Arthur Nzeribe’s community road — a first of its kind in the history of ISOPADEC. By the time I left office, we had also: renovated Awomamma, Oguta, Akuma, Amiri, and Mgbirichi General Hospitals. Built the new Awomamma Acquisition Center. Initiated renovation works at Agwa General Hospital, Oguta LGA .Awara Health Centre Ohaji, Mgbra General Hospital Egbema. Started construction of 24 primary schools across the oil-producing LGAs. Apart from infrastructure, I championed social investments — from youth and women empowerment to monthly support for traditional rulers, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. I personally funded drugs for ISOPADEC clinic at the HQ to cater to indigent residents, ISOPADEC staff and traditional Rulers. Everything we did is verifiable, and thanks to the Governor’s unwavering support.
What is your relationship like with Governor Hope Uzodimma?
His Excellence Governor Senator Hope Uzodimma is not just a friend, he is my elder brother. Everybody that knows two the of us in Nigeria calls him my elder brother. Even you guys in Abuja here knows that Governor Hope has been my friend and brother. It remains like that forever because we have no issue with each other at all. I will like to take you through memory lane: before Governor Hope uzondinma became a politician, as a private businessman, I accompanied him everywhere he goes to both here in Nigeria and the United Kingdom every where. I can recall in several locations he was handling projects at cocoa port Delta State NDDC project (sure line protection jobs ) I accompanied him to site regularly. Also his Calabar port dredging contracts from the flag off to regular site visitation I accompanied him, we do everything together I go everywhere with him. No matter my own personal schedules he will ask that I accompany him. As a senate committee chairman on customs and aviation, I accompanied him to most of his oversight functions in Uyo, Lagos , Port Harcourt , Warri and so many other places. For those who do not know my relationship with him, I do not believe that there is any politician in Imo State that is closer to him than me. He remains my elder brother, my friend, my leader and the Governor of Imo State. For those 99% who do not know how we started, their eye service and gossips will never stop our relationship. What people are after now is ‘food is ready come and eat’. Because they have no idea where we are coming from. As a politician, I stood by him. I organized the very first meeting that urged him to run for Senate in 2010 at Sun City Hotel in Owerri. I organized a lot of our men from Orlu senatorial zone to urge him to run for senate and take over from Senator Osita Izunaso. That was how we put pressure on Ikedi Ohakem to support H.E Governor Hope Uzodinma for the 2011 senatorial elections and everything became history. We won the election. His second term Senatorial election, I was a major player also. In 2018 APC Governorship primaries I was one of those who urged him to leave the senate and run for Governor under APC. We collectively worked with him and he became the APC governorship candidate and when he became the candidate of APC he sent me to Owerri to go and organize Imo state politicians before he arrives. I was in Imo State for three weeks. I formed friends of hope campaign organization in my country home.
I sponsored several meetings in my country home before I moved the meeting to Oxygen Hotel, Owerri before the big masquerade the Governor came back to Owerri and joined us and expanded the campaign and we remained at the Oxygen Hotel, Owerri throughout the election and everything became history today.
From 1999 till Governor Hope Uzodinma became Governor I have not benefited a dime from any former Governor or politician because they tagged some of us as Hope boys and I agree because my loyalty all my life I have been with him I served him with love and sincerity. His children and mine are like family. Our bond remains unshakable.
There are speculations that you to contest as governor of Imo State. Are you confirming this ambition, and is the governor supporting you?
Yes, when I resigned from ISOPADEC, I made it clear in my letter that I needed time to prepare for 2027. The governor is aware. And I believe the right thing is for him to support me — just as I supported him for years, even before he ventured into politics. Right now, people — from Abuja, Lagos and the Imolites in diaspora, and within Imo State — are urging me to contest. I will make my decision known at the right time.
What inspires your ambition to govern Imo State?
Governor Uzodimma’s performance is my greatest inspiration. He proved doubters wrong, just as I did at ISOPADEC. Look around the Owerri-Orlu highway, the Owerri-Okigwe highway, the Owerri-Umuahia Mbaise highway, and the dualized Owerri Port Harcourt road from Assumpta to the Secretariat are all game changers.He negotiated with the Catholic community to build one of the best concrete bridges in Imo’s history. Now he is rebuilding Concord Hotel to become the finest in the South-East/South-South also the Owerri urban renewal etc. His health insurance policy ensures women give birth free of charge in rural communities. These are legacy projects, and I want to consolidate on them. I am a builder — literally and figuratively. People know me across Imo state. I have built men for 40 years through scholarships and empowerment. So I do not need introduction to lead because I am very popular in the state and Nigeria. I do not need to be introduced in Abuja because my name is like coca-cola. I have my own mind, just like the Governor. And we need such independence to govern effectively.
What is your take on the Imo charter of equity regarding rotation of governorship?
I am not contesting based on any charter of equity. I am running as an Ohaji-Egbema man. I am from the oil/Gas producing community of Ohaji-Egbema so I am running this election as an Ohaji-egbema man. We have been marginalized for decades. Equity demands that this Ohaji-Egbema side of Imo gets a turn to govern. So I am not moved by any “charter of equity” that was not honored in past elections. We have the largest gas deposit in the whole of Africa. We also have a lot of oil wells and Adapalm in Imo State. If Adapalm is handled very well the state can give employment to 5000 youths. So everything giving Imo state revenue today is from Ohaji-Egbema, Oguta. So it is right that this side of Imo state should produce a governor next. Talking about chartered of equity, I will not join issues with charter of equity. Whoever wants equity must come with a clean hands. When Governor Uzodimma won in 2023, candidates from Owerri and Okigwe went to supreme court. If they had won, would we be talking about equity now? There is no charter of equity in my programme.
I will come out for this election because I am from Ohaji-Egbema.
If you eventually declare, what kind of change would you bring to Imo State?
Well, we still have time. I have not declared my ambition to run. People are urging me to come out when that time comes I will expand on it. But for now, I have not declared. When I do, I will present a full manifesto.
What message do you have for the people of Imo State as they look ahead to 2027?
Let us not overheat the politics. The Governor, Hope Uzodinma still has over two years left. We should give him support to complete his work. He has said he wants to hand over to someone competent — someone who will continue his legacy. That person must have vision, capacity, and the heart to serve. That is what I represent.
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