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| Godwyn Akabogu to Asabeafrika…’Right now i dont want to participate in Politics, my business in America is enough for me’ |
In this concluding part of the rare
and exclusive interview with Pennsylvania, United
States of America bases international business man and politician, Godwyn Akabogu, he opened up to Asabeafrika on the need for Nigeria to
start looking at paying more emphasis on the human beings than on
infrastructure. Akabogu who is also
an American citizen lament the poor
state of security at a popular Nigerian airport and connected the malaise to
the poor remuneration condition of the workers.
He rounded the encounter up with the story of how he relocated one of
his pretty daughters from Covenant
University owned by capitalist Bishop, David
Oyedepo to the United States of
America due to high-end fees on her education and why Nigerians must rise
against arbitrary living condition foist on them by their leaders. The American
based Imo state indigene didn’t
forget to talk more on his mentor, Owele
Rochas Okorocha and why the Igbos of Eastern Nigeria must take him
serious. Enjoy the excerpts on your Africa’s number 1 celebrity encounter blog,
Asabeafrika.
and exclusive interview with Pennsylvania, United
States of America bases international business man and politician, Godwyn Akabogu, he opened up to Asabeafrika on the need for Nigeria to
start looking at paying more emphasis on the human beings than on
infrastructure. Akabogu who is also
an American citizen lament the poor
state of security at a popular Nigerian airport and connected the malaise to
the poor remuneration condition of the workers.
He rounded the encounter up with the story of how he relocated one of
his pretty daughters from Covenant
University owned by capitalist Bishop, David
Oyedepo to the United States of
America due to high-end fees on her education and why Nigerians must rise
against arbitrary living condition foist on them by their leaders. The American
based Imo state indigene didn’t
forget to talk more on his mentor, Owele
Rochas Okorocha and why the Igbos of Eastern Nigeria must take him
serious. Enjoy the excerpts on your Africa’s number 1 celebrity encounter blog,
Asabeafrika.
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| Godwyn Akabogu to Asabeafrika…’The Igbos suffer from a desease called PhD’ |
What do you think is the problem of
an average Igbo man, because the average Igbo man makes his breakthrough so
quick and life gives him so much but his political intuition is always towards
leading Nigeria or his Igbo nation. Do you think an average Igbo man is
confused?
an average Igbo man, because the average Igbo man makes his breakthrough so
quick and life gives him so much but his political intuition is always towards
leading Nigeria or his Igbo nation. Do you think an average Igbo man is
confused?
It started
right from the of late Sam Mbakwe. You
see, there is this syndrome that is prominent with an Igbo man, Pull Him Down Syndrome (PHD). So, no
average Igbo man wants to see the other man arise above him. But we should go beyond that right now. The
world is moving forward, let’s make use of the best instrument that we have and
for today, Anayo Rochas Okorocha is
the best instrument that Igbo have; so, we should stop
slandering him.
right from the of late Sam Mbakwe. You
see, there is this syndrome that is prominent with an Igbo man, Pull Him Down Syndrome (PHD). So, no
average Igbo man wants to see the other man arise above him. But we should go beyond that right now. The
world is moving forward, let’s make use of the best instrument that we have and
for today, Anayo Rochas Okorocha is
the best instrument that Igbo have; so, we should stop
slandering him.
“You see, there is this syndrome that
is prominent with an Igbo man, Pull
Him Down syndrome (PHD). So, no average Igbo man wants to see the other man
arise above him”
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| Godwyn Akabogu to Asabeafrika….’Sending money for my daughter’s school fees at Covenant was a tough deal but on relocating them to America they got Government grant’ |
You just left Imo state and tonight
you are on your way out of the country, what do you intend telling Igbos in Diaspora about Imo State?
you are on your way out of the country, what do you intend telling Igbos in Diaspora about Imo State?
See, from my
individual perspective, I have been hearing but I didn’t see. Now, I came, I
spend time, I travelled the length and breadth of the three senatorial zones. I
saw a lot of changes and that is why I am granting this interview.
individual perspective, I have been hearing but I didn’t see. Now, I came, I
spend time, I travelled the length and breadth of the three senatorial zones. I
saw a lot of changes and that is why I am granting this interview.
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| Godwyn Akabogu aka American Bobo |
Rochas Okorocha has charlatans in his
cabinet…
cabinet…
So, why do you think people have a
contrary opinion about the governor’s reforms?
contrary opinion about the governor’s reforms?
Because
there are lots of charlatans around him; see, this guys are Rochas by mouth they are not Rochas
by heart. They are not Rochas by
blood. All the political sermons he is giving to them, they are not digesting
it properly. So, all their doings is for their own personal aggrandizement. So,
tell me, you are a commissioner, you are an SA, you are PA and you benefitted
from this system and yet you cannot open your mouth and say something good
about the system. There is something fundamentally wrong about the person.
there are lots of charlatans around him; see, this guys are Rochas by mouth they are not Rochas
by heart. They are not Rochas by
blood. All the political sermons he is giving to them, they are not digesting
it properly. So, all their doings is for their own personal aggrandizement. So,
tell me, you are a commissioner, you are an SA, you are PA and you benefitted
from this system and yet you cannot open your mouth and say something good
about the system. There is something fundamentally wrong about the person.
“That is the major difference between America and Nigeria; they put more emphasis on human beings not the structures.
Because when you take care of the human beings, they will now yield the
resources that will take care of the system”.
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| Godwyn Akabogu to Asabeafrika…’Count me out on talks about churches that uses free offerings to establish costly schools’ |
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| The GDA with Godwyn Akabogu after the interview session |
Are you still interested in serving
in your state either as a Local Government Chairman or a commissioner?
in your state either as a Local Government Chairman or a commissioner?
Well, they
say ‘once a General always a General’ but for now, I am not keen in any
political office or any political contract. And that is the way it is, for now,
I am not interested. What I am doing in the United States, I am comfortable with it. I am comfortable with the
business I am doing in the US and to God be the glory.
say ‘once a General always a General’ but for now, I am not keen in any
political office or any political contract. And that is the way it is, for now,
I am not interested. What I am doing in the United States, I am comfortable with it. I am comfortable with the
business I am doing in the US and to God be the glory.
But what if you are called to come
and serve, would you reject the offer of your people?
and serve, would you reject the offer of your people?
When I get
to that bridge I will cross it but for now, it has not crossed my mind.
to that bridge I will cross it but for now, it has not crossed my mind.
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| Godwyn Akabogu to Asabeafrika…’For Nigeria to experience a total change, we must work the talk’ |
How Nigerian Leaders can change
citizens’ fortune…
citizens’ fortune…
What is your advice for the
Government of Nigeria, how do you think the new government can change the
destiny of our people?
Government of Nigeria, how do you think the new government can change the
destiny of our people?
Yeah, that
is a good question. You see, the present regime should think more of human
being. That is the major difference between America and Nigeria;
they put more emphasis on human beings not the structures. Because when you
take care of the human beings, they will now yield the resources that will take
care of the system. But here, people are not properly taken care of. We are
careless about human beings and the human beings are the main engine room. You see, an average American has a good life because
he gonna pay tax. Tell me one
particular mineral resources America
has, none. The only mineral resources they have are human beings. They take
care of them; they give them free medical care called ObamaCare. Everybody gets
it and at the end of the day you pay a token to government to have a good
health. Once you have a good health you go to work and once you go to work, you
pay tax and when you pay tax Government use the tax you pay to take care of the
system. That is the way it works.
is a good question. You see, the present regime should think more of human
being. That is the major difference between America and Nigeria;
they put more emphasis on human beings not the structures. Because when you
take care of the human beings, they will now yield the resources that will take
care of the system. But here, people are not properly taken care of. We are
careless about human beings and the human beings are the main engine room. You see, an average American has a good life because
he gonna pay tax. Tell me one
particular mineral resources America
has, none. The only mineral resources they have are human beings. They take
care of them; they give them free medical care called ObamaCare. Everybody gets
it and at the end of the day you pay a token to government to have a good
health. Once you have a good health you go to work and once you go to work, you
pay tax and when you pay tax Government use the tax you pay to take care of the
system. That is the way it works.
“Listen; that was no joke, that
wasn’t a joke. I know how much I was paying at Covenant University for my children’s school fees but lo and behold
when they got to US they had
government grant. As a matter of fact, my daughter made a first class”.
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| Godwyn Akabogu to Asabeafrika…’I discovered large security lapses at Oweri Airport’ |
What I discovered @ Owerri Airport…
If you are to have a ten minutes
opportunity with President Buhari now, what will you advise him to do to the
Nigerian situation?
opportunity with President Buhari now, what will you advise him to do to the
Nigerian situation?
The people
are hungry, the people are hungry. I mean, I was passing through the airport in
Owerri
for instance, in America they call them TSL, but here they call them
SACHOL (Luggage handlers), I saw the security lapses at the Owerri Airport and when I complained to
the guy at the airport, he was like ‘men,
these guys are hungry, they need
something to eat’. So, they were busy looking at me, what they will extract
from me, not the luggage that is passing through the security check point.
Let’s call a spade a spade. And I was thinking within myself, when I go through
a TSL
in US, it is a serious affair. If you
even tell them ‘good morning’ they
are not going to listen to you. Everybody’s eyes are on that screen,
everybody’s eyes are on that luggage going through the scanning machine. In Owerri, my luggage is passing through
and the guy was scanning me from head-to-toe looking for what I am going to
give to him while the luggage was going through. And I said to myself ‘what does this guy thinks, what if it was a
bomb I put in the bag?’ So, the more we become more people oriented it is
better for us. People will now have the interest to work and be committed to
the work. An average American is prepared to die for
America. I am an American citizen, I
am prepared to die for America
tomorrow, that is the way it is. To tell you the extent of love I have for the
system, yes, because I benefitted so much from the American system.
are hungry, the people are hungry. I mean, I was passing through the airport in
Owerri
for instance, in America they call them TSL, but here they call them
SACHOL (Luggage handlers), I saw the security lapses at the Owerri Airport and when I complained to
the guy at the airport, he was like ‘men,
these guys are hungry, they need
something to eat’. So, they were busy looking at me, what they will extract
from me, not the luggage that is passing through the security check point.
Let’s call a spade a spade. And I was thinking within myself, when I go through
a TSL
in US, it is a serious affair. If you
even tell them ‘good morning’ they
are not going to listen to you. Everybody’s eyes are on that screen,
everybody’s eyes are on that luggage going through the scanning machine. In Owerri, my luggage is passing through
and the guy was scanning me from head-to-toe looking for what I am going to
give to him while the luggage was going through. And I said to myself ‘what does this guy thinks, what if it was a
bomb I put in the bag?’ So, the more we become more people oriented it is
better for us. People will now have the interest to work and be committed to
the work. An average American is prepared to die for
America. I am an American citizen, I
am prepared to die for America
tomorrow, that is the way it is. To tell you the extent of love I have for the
system, yes, because I benefitted so much from the American system.
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| Godwyn Akabogu to Asabeafrika…’In Nigeria we are careless about people and that is why we cant develop like America’ |
How America handles shelter…
Here in Nigeria your landlord could
wake up and just increase your house rent arbitrarily without recourse to
economic trend. Paying school fees is like killing a game in the forest. How
does America handle the issue of education, shelter and medicals?
wake up and just increase your house rent arbitrarily without recourse to
economic trend. Paying school fees is like killing a game in the forest. How
does America handle the issue of education, shelter and medicals?
In America,
every working citizen is encouraged to have his own real estate. You got
through mortgage issues, the bank is involved. The bank gives you the loan, you
are put on a 25 years to 30 years re-pay plan and you pay install mentally. You
pay depending on your income; you pay depending on your credit standing. But
here, it is a different ball game. This place is like a cash economy. It
doesn’t work that way. Cash economy doesn’t work that way oversea.
every working citizen is encouraged to have his own real estate. You got
through mortgage issues, the bank is involved. The bank gives you the loan, you
are put on a 25 years to 30 years re-pay plan and you pay install mentally. You
pay depending on your income; you pay depending on your credit standing. But
here, it is a different ball game. This place is like a cash economy. It
doesn’t work that way. Cash economy doesn’t work that way oversea.
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| Godwyn Akabogu to Asabeafrika…’President Buhari must promote policies that will take care of people not infrastructure’ |
May be that is why we have a lot of
young deaths among the middle class in Nigeria?
young deaths among the middle class in Nigeria?
Yes, there
is a lot of stress in the system.
is a lot of stress in the system.
Why I took my daughter off Covenant
University…
University…
Because I noticed there was a time
one of your daughters was schooling at Covenant University and at a time your
wife withdrew her and relocated her to the United States of America? What was
your experience like paying the outrageous school fees?
one of your daughters was schooling at Covenant University and at a time your
wife withdrew her and relocated her to the United States of America? What was
your experience like paying the outrageous school fees?
Listen; that
was no joke, that wasn’t a joke. I know how much I was paying at Covenant
University for my children’s school fees but lo and behold when they got
to US they had government grant. As
a matter of fact, my daughter made a first class. They came over to the United
States of America and started all over again. So, I am attending my
daughter’s graduation ceremony this Friday (6th of May). She did a
first class. And by coming over to the US, the heat was taken off me. Because
of my status in America, they became automatic citizens and they were able to
go to school with grant. Such privileges are not in existence here and that is
why people pay through their noses to raise their kids in school. Parents are
going through hell, through a lot of stuff to pay their children’s school fees.
was no joke, that wasn’t a joke. I know how much I was paying at Covenant
University for my children’s school fees but lo and behold when they got
to US they had government grant. As
a matter of fact, my daughter made a first class. They came over to the United
States of America and started all over again. So, I am attending my
daughter’s graduation ceremony this Friday (6th of May). She did a
first class. And by coming over to the US, the heat was taken off me. Because
of my status in America, they became automatic citizens and they were able to
go to school with grant. Such privileges are not in existence here and that is
why people pay through their noses to raise their kids in school. Parents are
going through hell, through a lot of stuff to pay their children’s school fees.
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| The GDA in a tete-a-tete with Godwyn Akabogu |
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| Godwyn Akabogu to Asabeafrika…’Yes, i have a big plan for my people back home but when i come close to the bridge i will cross the bridge’ |
Let’s talk about churches that take
offerings and tithes to build educational facilities and yet demand ambiguous
funds from poor members who cannot afford it to get education for their kids.
Do you think it is right for churches to use the money taken from the poor to
build educational facilities for the rich?
offerings and tithes to build educational facilities and yet demand ambiguous
funds from poor members who cannot afford it to get education for their kids.
Do you think it is right for churches to use the money taken from the poor to
build educational facilities for the rich?
I don’t want
to discuss that (Laughter) I don’t want to discuss it.
to discuss that (Laughter) I don’t want to discuss it.
Why don’t you want to discuss it, are
you afraid of spiritual attack?
you afraid of spiritual attack?
No, nothing.
I don’t just want to talk about it. I don’t wanna
(Laughter)
I don’t just want to talk about it. I don’t wanna
(Laughter)
A word for Nigeria and Nigerians
I love
Nigeria and I just wish the system will change for good someday. Nigerians
should work the work and the change will come.
Nigeria and I just wish the system will change for good someday. Nigerians
should work the work and the change will come.
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| Godwyn Akabogu to Asabeafrika…’The Igbos will lead to handle Owele Rochas Okorocha with special care’ |
