In an interview in Washington DC, USA by the Editor of The Times of Nigeria; of Sir Tony Umadim O. Nammor. A senatorial Candidate for Delta North, Senatorial District in Delta State.

     

US Based Tony Nammor Joins Delta North Senate Race

BY Sunny ofili

DATE : Friday, 14 April 2006

Tony Nammor by all standards has achieved a measure of success in the United States. He is an engineer and a Knight! But this noble son of Anioma is angry. He is not happy with the plight of his people who occupy the Delta North senatorial district in Delta state and he is about to do something about it: "I am going back home to serve my people" he told Sunny Ofili, editor and publisher of The Times of Nigeria in this interview last week in Washington, DC. Excerpts below: TON: Can you please tell us a little bit about your background? Answer: My name is Engr. Tony Nammor. A Noble son of the DELTA. I was born in the year 1971 to a noble Anioma family and parent by name Lt Col Mathew and Mrs. Mercy O. Nammor (rtd), of Umolo village in Ezi, Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State. A strong Christian family and highly disciplined parent whom I am so proud to have and learnt a great deal from about life. I attended Sacred Heart Nursery and Primary school Ibadan and Command Children School Ikeja , Lagos State and my post primary education was also at Command Day Secondary School Lagos. On completion, I proceeded to University of Maiduguri for my Bachelors degree and University College London, UK for post graduate diploma. I left for the United States of America in the mid nineties to further my education in Engineering and obtained a Master of Science degree in Civil – Environmental Engineering from Virginia Institute of Science and Technology. I hold certificates and recognition on leadership and management programs from various international organizations. A seasoned new breed politician involve in the advancement of Nigeria's political reform through planning and policy initiation as a member of the board of directors of Nigeria Policy Council – USA. I served as both the financial secretary of ANIOMA USA- Washington DC and Secretary General, ANIOCHA PROGRESSIVE UNION – USA. I could also describe myself as one united Nigerian with the ability to speak Ibo, Hausa and Yoruba fluently and a true advocate and supporter of sports in Nigeria. I am happily married. TON: Why are you interested in the Delta North Senatorial Seat? Answer: Thank you. As a young man growing up in Nigeria and privilege to visit my village Ezi a couple of times before leaving the country for further studies, I have always been fascinated by the cultural enrichment and heritage of our people within Delta North otherwise known as ANIOMA. A group of noble people who can pride themselves as being very loyal and peaceful in view of the high level of marginalization and impoverishment they have been experiencing within the region and the country as a whole. More to which are the fact surrounding their positive contributions to the growth and development of Nigeria. I am not only interested in the Delta North Senatorial Seat but also determine to bring my people out of the many years of denial and systematic seclusion from the intricate affairs of both the state and country in general. The people of the region have not been giving enough opportunities like their counterparts in the state and it is my strong opinion and believe that the time has come for a big change in the socio – economic and political dispensation of my people in the Delta. Primarily, I would simply state that the silent cry and overwhelming disenchantment of the people of Delta North (Anioma) vis a vis the need to have a more vibrant, charismatic and better informed personality who would work selflessly for the grassroot people at helping to initiate developmental policies to enhance and energize the indigenes are the main reasons for my seeking the senatorial mandate from my people. TON: Do you have any experience in politics or management that prepared you for this position? Answer: Yes I do but I would choose to answer the latter and give little credence to the formal since my goals and objective for the people of Delta North is pivoted upon the fundamental development from grassroot, the indigenes by empowering them in self development, economic and social awareness and self determination. Political I have held several positions both as a student body executive back in Nigeria in the early nineties and here in the United States. My background although in engineering has taken me through different channels of management and development. I started my leadership role back in school when as a student leader; I help put in place policies that would deter northern state students from the north from demonstrating and closing down our university which happens to be a federal institution because their bursary and scholarship funds were delayed. I played a key role in student politics while in the university in Nigeria and to a large extent served as a planner and strategic policy initiator for various bodies here in the United States. I volunteered in the last United States democratic election for Senator John Kerry and that gave me the opportunity to witness some election processes and management which would be useful come election 2007. I served with the united states department of homeland security in 2001 after September eleven terrorist attack by assisting to coordinate and train over 50,000 security personnel in and around the country for which I received an achievement award for my performance. The job was very tasking and involves quick and accurate decision making and of course educating the people through training. I worked with multinational cooperation's in the United States like Science Application International and Lockheed Martin corporations as senior analyst and senior logistics Manager on several projects. In the course of management I oversee developmental projects for United Nations Development Programs online and besides owning and running my private company; I hold board positions in various organizations relating to Nigeria and Africa, like the Director of Communication; Nigeria Policy Council – USA and Coordinator; Nigerians in Diaspora Organizations, Washington DC. TON: What do you hope to achieve if elected? How will your candidacy be different from the usual Nigerian Politician? Answer: This is a very good and direct TON and I intend to be very straight forward with my answer. Foremost, my ultimate goal as mentioned is to see that the average grassroot indigene of Delta State and not just Delta North, are well informed, educated, aware of the socio – economic policies that would benefit them and above all empower the people most especially the women and youths to ultimately uplift the state and the region if I may be more precise. I will fight for the fundamental principles that would allow for the creation of Anioma State in the region. My candidacy is already different from its onset. I stand for the principles and fundamentals of true democracy and ethics of governance. Now do we have that presently in Delta North? Well I guess you need to pose that TON to the incumbent. Also, I come with a solution for the noble people of Delta North, I am on a mission to systematically put in place development values and attributes through policy initiation, favorable to the people and most of all unite our people for a common goal which is the growth and development of both the people and the region of ANIOMA. I ventured into politics as a necessity and not a hobby or profession. I am a different breed of Nigerian politicians who does not believe in the corrupt practices of the present political groups but more into actualizing and revamping the political dispensation and reform by abiding to the ethics and principles of democracy and governance. One of which is the principle of free and fair election and transparent leadership. I can comfortably say that I am one of the few Nigerian new breed politicians who cannot pride himself of embezzling the people's treasury or known to have indulged in misappropriation of public funds. He who thinks to the contrary can come out and speak. I will answer to the people at any time. I come from a well disciplined military and Christian background and don't ask me how both came into place, it's just the way I was brought up and that's still an intricate part of my daily life. Nigerians need to use their tongue to count all the teeth in their mouth. Nobody would come and develop your country, state or region except you and me. We need to wake up to realize that Nigeria is going through a reform can better place the country on the frontline of other nations in development and growth but we sure need the right set of people and leaders to do the work. Collectively we can build the nation but individually we can only develop our minds and homes. I am forged at uniting my people for development in view of our diverse opinions and regional settings. The need to have an Anioma state for example has been overstretched and deliberately ignored by the system and I intend to bring that to the fore front of my campaign. TON: What is your position on the issues of the creation of Anioma State for the people of Delta North? Answer: I am a frontline advocate for the creation of Anioma State. Quote me. The history of the region would vindicate our people and by the grace of God, my mandate would see the actualization of the creation of ANIOMA STATE. Our people have long been struggling for identification, image and development in the region and where you have the majority being addressed and treated like a minority within the minority, and then I can comfortably say that something is seriously wrong with that picture. The creation of Anioma State would not only help distinguish the people of the region base on ethnic dichotomy but would make for a better micro management of the region in all facets for effective and structured development and growth. TON: Have you chosen a political party yet? Answer: YES I have but would sincerely choose to reserve disclosing at this time until I officially launch my campaign in June 2006. The campaign has been unveiled which tells why I am granting this interview but an official launching would set the train in motion with the party banner well displayed. TON: Since you reside in the USA, are you not out of touch with the people of your district. Answer: NO! Not at all. I do have my family and business at home besides the fact that I owe the people of Delta North my presence to better build communication, networking and interaction. I do travel home at least 3 times a year and all this time I am either in Asaba or Ezi my home town, so I am very much in tune with the people. I travel the same roads everyone of you do and go through same challenges of navigating along the deplorable roads connecting Asaba to Issele Ukwu to Onitcha Olona and Ebu not to mention other areas alike and one big TON that comes to my mind is "WHERE ARE OUR REPRESENTATION "I do not ask why the roads are not in the best conditions but where are those who represent us at Aso rock (Abuja). If they were doing there job and in tune with the grassroot, then the TON would not be necessary. TON: How would you access the performance of the current senator representing the Delta North Senatorial District, Patrick Osakwe? Answer: I do have great respect for Chief Osakwe as an elder and someone who has contributed is share to the region but besides that, I do not subscribe to the ideals and his method of management. I feel he has not really taken the bull by the horn with respect to Delta North and the policies and legislation of affairs affecting our people. I challenge him to give us his stewardship and report card on his iniatives and policies that would better project Delta North and its people in Nigeria. I am not going to speak to his performance per se because I want the people to react to that and pass their assessment, meanwhile, I am saying to the people of Delta North, that I am the man, the noble and humble servant of the people who would fight for their right and hand -carry their mandate to Abuja for action. I find solutions to issues and problems and do not make or duel on them. TON: What is your opinion about the Niger Delta issue and the Government. Answer : The Niger - Delta challenge is most unfortunate for the region and most especially Nigeria as a nation. I chose the world challenge because i tend to be careful in pre-empting a problem which may lead to crisis if not properly handled. I strongly feel that the government may have tried to resolve the issue in a more constructive and diplomatic manner, rather than use military intervention. As an environmentalist, i know the adverse effect and implication of the environmental pollution being experienced and more to which is the facts surrounding the deplorable leaving conditions of the people as oppose the foreign companies. It makes no economic or social sense that the indigenous people are left to surfer and denied due redress on their leaving conditions. Also the country needs to review the terms and conditions of the multinational cooperation and refineries and address directly the demands of the people through their representatives. On the other hand, the governments owe the people and nation the responsibility of safeguarding lives and properties as such the militia need to realize that vandalism and destruction of pipelines and wells will not solve any problem but rather create a more toxic environment and complicate the already volatile issues at hand. The nation as a whole stands to loose if these conditions deteriorates. All stakeholders need to put the nation and her stability above all and find a more amicable way of redressing the situation in the Niger Delta. Also remember that Niger Delta goes beyond the oil producing states and whatever affects them also affects us in Anioma. TON: What is your position on the third term agenda? Answer: The Nigerian Constitution to me should be the supreme legal document that guides the planning and operation of the nation though her government and the people. This is my lay mans definition and it should above every citizen of the country. It should not be subjected to intermittent changes or amendment for any political or personal gains but rather should reflect the true and conscious, collective opinion of the majority of the nations citizenry and their mandate. The third term agenda if at all it is an agenda, is a selfish, undemocratic, un-ethical approach and to a large extent would go a long way in determining the direction Nigeria would go come 2007. The country is presently going through a democratic reform which would either lay the foundation for effective leadership and true democracy or may end up throwing the nation back to the hay days of political log jam. We are watching the present political process and hope that the incumbent would make the right decision for posterity would judge al those who contributed to either the growth or demise of Nigeria. I would want to be judged for my positive contribution and acknowledge for fighting against the ills of our nation. I sincerely would like to call on the good people of Delta North to seek their leaders not on the value of the naira they present to them at meetings but on the genuine and patriotic effort they make or intend to make for change in the region. I thank the management of The Times of Nigeria for the privilege and time.

Last Updated ( Friday, 14 April 2006

 

Sir Tony O. Nammor

Senatorial Candidate

Delta North Senatorial District

Delta State. NIGERIA

http://www.nammor2007.com