Odita Sunday 
By Ewere Okonta
08037383019
eobnewsmedia@gmail.com
www.ewereokontablog.org.ng
Welcome to HardTalk!
Where power is interrogated, comfort is denied, and politicians are made to speak truth without filters.
Happy Reading:
Rotarian Ambassador Monye Ehiwuogwu Lucky bares his mind on power, politics, zoning, insecurity and why Ika Federal Constituency needs a firebrand, not a passenger. In this no-holds-barred HardTalk interview.
HardTalk: You wear many hats, security expert, Rotarian, politician, activist. Who really is Monye Ehiwuogwu Lucky when the titles are stripped away?
MONYE EHIWUOGWU LUCKY:
Strip away the titles and you will find a very humble, humane and courageous man who believes deeply that life has meaning only when it is lived in service to others. I am driven by the conviction that we are not here by accident; we are here to make impact. From childhood, service has defined my life. That philosophy is what drew me to Rotary International and the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul.
One thing I have vowed never to compromise is truth. I believe strongly that justice and fairness are non-negotiable, no matter the personal cost. Nigeria’s biggest problem is not lack of ideas but lack of courage to stand for truth. I also take mentoring seriously because too many young people are making avoidable mistakes due to lack of guidance. My lifelong creed remains: “One reach one, one teach one.”
HardTalk: How much of your worldview is shaped by growing up in Agbor, and how much by exposure to Abuja and Kaduna power corridors?
MONYE EHIWUOGWU LUCKY:
Agbor made me. Period. If reincarnation exists, I want to return as an Agbor man. Growing up in Agbor was communal, inclusive and deeply human. Nobody cared about tribe or religion; we cared about people. That upbringing wired me permanently.
Living in Abuja or Kaduna did not change my values; it only exposed me to power. And power without values is dangerous. So wherever I find myself, I remain the same Agbor boy who believes in communal living, fairness and respect for humanity.
HardTalk: Critics say you are overqualified academically but under-tested electorally. Are they right?
MONYE EHIWUOGWU LUCKY:
That criticism is lazy. Politics is not learned by inheritance; it is learned by participation. I joined partisan politics in 2017, ran for the Delta State House of Assembly in 2018, and aspired to the House of Representatives in 2022 under the APC. Those years exposed me to the raw underbelly of Nigerian politics.
Every politician you see today was once “under-tested.” Experience is cumulative. I have paid my dues, learned the rules, understood the terrain and built networks. Electoral experience is not measured by victories alone but by resilience and growth.
HardTalk: When did public service stop being an aspiration and become a calling?
MONYE EHIWUOGWU LUCKY:
From childhood. I was raised to believe that “it profits most who serves best.” Service gives me fulfilment money and titles cannot give. Politics for me is not a career; it is a platform. A platform to serve humanity at a higher level. Serving humanity is the price I owe both God and man.
HardTalk: As a security expert, what does Nigeria’s political class get wrong about insecurity?
MONYE EHIWUOGWU LUCKY:
Almost everything. Many political leaders want results but don’t understand the problem. Today’s insecurity is not just about guns; it is about economics, geopolitics, ideology and failed governance.
Do our leaders understand the root causes? Do they know who funds insecurity? Do they understand the transnational dimensions? You cannot shoot your way out of insecurity. Security solutions must be holistic, intelligence-driven, well-funded and people-focused.
HardTalk: Critics accuse politicians of using philanthropy as camouflage. How do you separate your humanitarian work from politics?
MONYE EHIWUOGWU LUCKY:
People who know me don’t need explanations. Long before politics, I was paying school fees, empowering widows and supporting orphans quietly. I don’t advertise charity. Records exist. Politics only gives me a bigger platform to do what I have always done. I am a Rotarian; service is our DNA.
HardTalk: If given power, what security reform would shake the system?
MONYE EHIWUOGWU LUCKY:
I will go after the financiers and sponsors of insurgency, banditry and kidnapping. Until you choke funding channels, insecurity will thrive. I will also push for better welfare, equipment and motivation for security agencies. A demoralized security officer is a danger to society.
HardTalk: Ideologically, where do you stand?
MONYE EHIWUOGWU LUCKY:
I am a pragmatic realist. I don’t romanticize governance. I deal with facts, not fantasies. Nigeria needs leaders who tell hard truths, not sell sweet lies.
HardTalk: What did your political journeys teach you about Nigerian democracy?
MONYE EHIWUOGWU LUCKY:
Partisan Politics is a different kettle of fish. As a matter of fact, it is in a world of its own. The nature of Nigerian Politics cannot be described only in a few sentences. It has a very long way to go in Nigeria and we can only get to Eldorado or to the utopian society that we all crave for if and only if our political class put their interest aside in the interest of the common good. Nigerian Democracy is very nascent and fluid. I for one strongly believes that we can only get it right if the right people are voted into Political office. There is a saying that ‘’when the righteous is on the throne, the people rejoice’’.
HardTalk: Does Nigerian politics reward competence or loyalty?
MONYE EHIWUOGWU LUCKY:
Loyalty, unfortunately. Merit has been sacrificed on the altar of loyalty, and that is why development has stalled. But loyalty and competence should coexist. Choosing loyalty without competence is a recipe for failure.
In Nigerian Politics, there exist clear distinction between competence and loyalty. Generally speaking, the preference for loyalty over competence is the name of the game. These are the reasons that we have not made significant progress since the return of Democracy. Merit and competence have overtime been sacrificed on the altar of loyalty, unfortunately. The point I am making is that we can still have competent people who can be loyal.
HardTalk: Is APC in Delta State truly ready to win?
MONYE EHIWUOGWU LUCKY:
Absolutely. APC is a large political family, and big families have disagreements. What matters is alignment at critical moments. When the chips are down, APC will realign. What we are seeing now is normal political turbulence.
HardTalk: How would you assess APC leadership in Delta State?
MONYE EHIWUOGWU LUCKY:
Organized, strategic and increasingly cohesive. Coordinating a party as large as APC is no small feat. The APC leadership in Delta today is very organized and in tandem with the people. Our Party hitherto has never witnessed the kind of cohesion that we are seeing today. The leadership of the Party as headed by Elder Omeni Sobotie quite frankly are by my estimation doing creditably well in the scheme of things.
HardTalk: What is your relationship with APC leadership?
MONYE EHIWUOGWU LUCKY:
Very collaborative and cordial. Politics thrives on relationships, and mine are healthy.
HardTalk: Are you contesting in 2027?
MONYE EHIWUOGWU LUCKY:
I am consulting. The party is supreme. Decisions will be taken collectively.
HardTalk: Why should voters trust you over older politicians?
MONYE EHIWUOGWU LUCKY:
Age does not equate to wisdom. Some of us have clarity, capacity and courage. My competence and delivery record are public knowledge.
HardTalk: What exactly are you bringing that has been missing?
MONYE EHIWUOGWU LUCKY:
Political vibrancy, fearless representation and people-first governance. Power is not for self-aggrandizement; it belongs to the people.
HardTalk: Can anyone win in Delta State without a godfather?
MONYE EHIWUOGWU LUCKY:
Godfatherism is normal in politics and in life. It is a global phenomenon. Love or hate the word, it is a philosophy that has become very potent in our daily lives. The danger is bad godfatherism. Above all, there is God who overrides human arrangements.
HardTalk: Is the Azun Agbor–Azun Owa dichotomy real?
MONYE EHIWUOGWU LUCKY:
It is largely political. I am Agbor by birth, Azun-Owa by upbringing. We are one people. The divide is exaggerated for political convenience.
HardTalk: Should the House of Representatives seat be zoned to Ika South in 2027?
MONYE EHIWUOGWU LUCKY:
Yes. Zoning promotes equity. But zoning must come with quality. We need someone bold, articulate and fearless. Ika Federal Constituency needs a firebrand, not a political tourist.
HardTalk: Critics say zoning entrenches mediocrity.
MONYE EHIWUOGWU LUCKY:
Zoning promotes fairness. What entrenches mediocrity is poor choice of candidates. We must zone and still choose the best.
HardTalk: If the system shuts you out again, will you quit?
MONYE EHIWUOGWU LUCKY:
Never. Quitters are losers! For any serious-minded Politician, remaining within the Political sphere and facilitate reforms is the ideal thing to do. I have been short changed twice but I never quitted, I remained in the Party because we need to cause change to happen. I never jumped ship owing to the fact that I believe that I can make the change that I yearn to see. I am an advocate of change.
HardTalk: We wish you well in your political aspirations. Nice having this interview with you.
MONYE EHIWUOGWU LUCKY:
God bless you my dear brother, Ewere Okonta.
*Ewere Okonta is the CEO of EOB Media. He manages the Hardtalk show with the daughter, Nma Ewere.*
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