Like TNT, Stephen Okeke knows drama. First, his candidacy for mayor was launched in October 2011, and by November he had pulled out because he said he was receiving threats. And then, his employees supposedly started getting threats - which forced the temporary closure of his business in December.
It was one thing to the next, but now he says he's settled on the idea that he must - by popular acclaim - formally offer himself for mayor.
Calling himself a "citizen candidate" - he launched his independent candidacy today along with one other councilor candidate, Phillip "Fawda" Henry.
The event was held at the Radisson - and we spoke to Okeke about whether he has realistic chances of winning:..
Stephen Okeke
"Right now I am more confident and more relaxed. I understand the threats better; that's why I now make the formal announcement. Somebody might say that it's too late in the process; well, I am not a political party. I think that what folks have to understand, it's like you are comparing a 9 month child with a 60 year old man. I am not a political party and I don't intend to do anything the way politicians does it."
Jules Vasquez
"Now there is no precedent for anyone to win as an independent candidate, either as a councilor and far more so as a mayor. Why do you think that you have the ingredients to set this new precedent?"
Stephen Okeke
"Because nobody has won in history. That is life from the historical end. Now life on the future things are different. Life from the historical end it was a Belize village. Life from the future end its a Belize City comprising of people from different cultures."
Jules Vasquez
"Even if they vote for you and you are elected, you would be a minority in the council and the partisan members of the council could out vote you and still determine what happens at City Hall."
Stephen Okeke
"You have companies and you have boards of directors; you have the same thing happening with boards of directors. But as a manager and as a CEO you should know how to work in the company of rivals."
Jules Vasquez
"Do you think that it will work against you that you are a non-born Belizean?"
Stephen Okeke
"From the onset I knew the odds were against me. One; I am not a born Belizean, two; I am black man at that, thirdly; I don't have a political, I don't have a political machinery and fourthly; I don't have the money. But I have the message, and the message is that we can do better than this."
Jules Vasquez
"But with all the odds stocked against you, can your candidacy realistically be anything more than symbolic?"
Stephen Okeke
"Every day people accomplished things others had said were impossible. Just like the cell phone I have here, It never existed, somebody said he will get it done, others said it couldn't be done and today we take it for granted. Everyday people accomplished things others thought were impossible."
Jules Vasquez
"So many of the enterprises and endeavors you have undertaken, however public spirited, however genuine, however successful in their own way they may be- it seems they invariable end up in discord and bitterness with you feeling that you have been taken advantage of, somehow gipped. I am saying that there is a pattern in your behavior that you work towards conflict."
Stephen Okeke
"The reaction toward my behavior is an attitude problem. It took many years for people to realize what I was doing many years ago and so it is not because I look for conflict. It is because I may be the first black immigrant who came to Belize. Instead of making my money, I got involved in people's lives."
Jules Vasquez
"Will not this history of friction, will not it dog you? Will not it continue to follow you?"
Stephen Okeke
"It will not."
Jules Vasquez
"Why would it not? Because wherever you go conflict ensues."
Stephen Okeke
"Because we have evolved, things have changed and 12 years ago things were not as hard as it is today. All what Belizeans want right now is [to] get the job done whoever it is."
Okeke says he will now commence house-to-house campaigning.
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