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Real News For Real New Mexicans.
The Chile Wire with Abe Baldonado. Hey, y'all. Welcome back to The Chile Wire, and we have a very special guest this week that I'm happy to introduce, NDIDIAMAK OKPAREKE Yes. Also known as Didi.
Abe Baldonado:Didi. Didi, welcome to The Chile Wire.
Didi Okpareke:Thank you. Thanks for having me.
Abe Baldonado:This is awesome. Well, Didi, it's tradition on the Chile Wire that we have to ask, no pressure, red or green.
Didi Okpareke:Pressure. That's too much pressure. Let's see. Actually, okay. I'll tell you a story.
Didi Okpareke:Alright. Okay. So I went to a show. It was Trevor Noah. When he came, this had to be maybe a year or two years ago.
Didi Okpareke:And he does this whole show and then he takes questions from the audience. And someone in the audience asked him, red or green? And he had no clue what that was. What are you saying?
Abe Baldonado:Did he get booed off the stage?
Didi Okpareke:No, he didn't. So someone started yelling Christmas. Christmas. And he's like Christmas. Like, you know.
Abe Baldonado:So further confused after that.
Didi Okpareke:Like, are talking about? Like, this is New Mexico. It's not Christmas time. I don't understand. You know?
Didi Okpareke:But I love New Mexican culture, and I think I I like Christmas as well.
Abe Baldonado:A candidate for Congressional District 1 Yes. And looking to represent New Mexico and Washington DC. Didi, just would love to hear your story. I've done a little bit of research about your background. Yeah.
Abe Baldonado:I'm beyond impressed, but it is really a representation of what makes New Mexico great, but also what has made our country one of the best countries in the world.
Didi Okpareke:Yes. The best.
Abe Baldonado:Yeah. Absolutely. And so, Didi, just wanna give you a moment to introduce yourself, tell your story to our viewers.
Didi Okpareke:Yeah. So my name is Ndidi Amaka Okpareke. My father named me Ndidi Amaka because Ndidi in his language means patience, and Amaka means beautiful. So it's beautiful to have patience. So anytime I introduce myself, I say, New Mexico, haven't we been patient enough?
Didi Okpareke:Yeah. Right? So I came here at the age of 14. I was born and raised in the state of California. It was good back then.
Didi Okpareke:Now, not so much. So I'm glad that I had a chance to come to New Mexico. I came here because my father worked for Lockheed Martin. Okay. And so he's one of those guys that, you know, knows all of America's secrets.
Didi Okpareke:And he used to build satellites and launch them into space. He was a satellite engineer. So we came here because we had a contract with the Air Force, and I attended Sandia High School. From there, I went to the University of New Mexico, and I studied biochemistry as an undergrad and then I matriculated into the College of Pharmacy at 2004. And then I graduated in 2008 with my doctor of pharmacy degree.
Didi Okpareke:So I've been practicing pharmacy now for almost twenty years.
Abe Baldonado:Wow.
Didi Okpareke:And I have three children. They're all boys. They're in every sport, every season. So I'm that mom, that soccer mom.
Abe Baldonado:Got the minivan?
Didi Okpareke:Oh, yeah. No. No. Hold on. No.
Didi Okpareke:No minivan. No minivan. No minivan. Just a nice Volvo. There we go.
Didi Okpareke:But, yes, I'm that mom who is always on the soccer field, tennis courts, basketball courts. And then I actually own my own business. So after about ten years of practicing pharmacy, I started my own company called Olive Tree Compounding Pharmacy, and I'm very grateful because it has been a success and it will continue to be. I'm located in Rio Rancho. And what I do as a professional, I make compounded medications.
Didi Okpareke:So from scratch, I make medication for patients, men, women, children, and animals. So I've been doing that for almost ten years. This is now the ninth year, and it's been a journey. You know, it's been a journey. I enjoy New Mexico.
Didi Okpareke:I love the dyslexic weather. Yeah. I love the food, the people, you know, New Mexicans are are different from the rest of the people in the nation.
Abe Baldonado:Absolutely.
Didi Okpareke:Yeah. We have a have a special spirit, you know, we have a special drive and you can't find that in in a lot of places. But yeah, just love New Mexico.
Abe Baldonado:Absolutely. Well, and you know, we are a mix of cultures that go back hundreds of years, if not thousands of years that has just developed, as you said, something very unique that you don't find in any other state in our union. But it's really what makes us beautiful and one of the best states to live in. And Didi, I'm impressed because, know, you came to New Mexico, but you've stayed here. You're you're invested here and your family invested And, you know, we see too many times that like myself and other individuals that I know, there's also been that temptation to potentially leave the state where we were born and raised because we do have some hardships here.
Abe Baldonado:We do have some struggles and we know that New Mexico oftentimes is known as the great exporter of our greatest asset and that's our people. We see our people leaving, but it's really refreshing when we start talking with with one another and we're like, no, we're here. We're invested here. And and I think it's great that you invested your business here. And what has that been like, you know, starting your business here, investing here Yeah.
Abe Baldonado:And not looking to go to a neighboring state like saying, hey, no, I wanna make an impact here where I grew up and I've spent most of my life.
Didi Okpareke:Yeah. I mean, New Mexico is interesting because there are a lot of opportunities, but we as the human capital development, we have to know how to navigate those opportunities. And it's not that part is not always easy. I just thank God for for the vision that he's given me, you know, to be able to see into the future of what needs to happen in New Mexico. And that's essentially why I started my company because I did see a lack of specialty medicine.
Didi Okpareke:Yeah. Right? And that's not even talking about the broader hardship that we're facing in our health care sector. That's just talking about compounding pharmacy. Right.
Didi Okpareke:You know, there are other cities that you can go to and there may be 10 in one little district or one little area, you know, but in New Mexico, it wasn't like that. So I started my company in 2017 and I built it from scratch. Like, don't have an MBA. I I've I didn't know anything about compounding pharmacy. But what I knew was that I liked business.
Didi Okpareke:I like making money and it was time for me to make a change in my career. And so I just launched into the deep.
Abe Baldonado:I love working there yourself. Can imagine. Oh, man. You know,
Didi Okpareke:that's great. Actually, you know, sometimes this is not that great.
Abe Baldonado:Well, again, there's no one to blame. Right? Like, man, it's like, oh, it's it's my fault. I did this. You know?
Didi Okpareke:Yeah. Sometimes yeah. When like, if I have to be there at 04:00 in the morning, that's not great.
Abe Baldonado:Yeah. If I drop the ball, have to look in the mirror and
Didi Okpareke:blame Yes. For the most part, what I love so much is creating that opportunity for other people. You know, I mean, I've employed people who they're the first person to go to college in their family, you know, or there are some people who've come into the pharmacy and I've encouraged them to get into pharmacy school and I've helped them along through that process, you know. So I think when I look at the heart of why I do what I do, it's because of the future. Like who who is coming up after me that this could probably have the biggest impact on their lives, you know?
Didi Okpareke:And I think that's that's really what's important for me.
Abe Baldonado:Creating that hand up and, you know, as we've seen, not just here in New Mexico, but across our country, we see that sometimes like entrepreneurship and big business gets a bad rap. Yeah. However, I don't think people understand that business owners are trying to create opportunities Right. For others because someone gave them an opportunity and they said, hey, I'm gonna grab the bull by the horns here.
Didi Okpareke:Right.
Abe Baldonado:And I'm gonna, you know, build my expertise and I hope to then now give that to a future generation Yeah. That can also empower them to do the same. And, know, I've told people I'm like, businesses aren't bad. They're they're not the enemy. Capitalism is good.
Abe Baldonado:Mhmm. It gives people dignity and, know, really good business. A lot of these businesses have been in business for many long time. Can't be in business many years if you're doing bad things.
Didi Okpareke:Exactly. You won't make it past the first year.
Abe Baldonado:Right. And so, you know, when I hear like, oh, you know, oil and gas companies are bad or, you know, pharmaceutical companies are bad. You know, there is some good to them. And, it doesn't come that, hey, is there sometimes bad decisions? Is there sometimes something we don't agree?
Abe Baldonado:Absolutely.
Didi Okpareke:Right.
Abe Baldonado:But we have an institution that holds businesses accountable as well. We set expectations. And we elect leaders Yeah. That call for accountability and who use their experience to say, hey, and I'm sure you could probably get into this as a pharmacist. You've seen the pharmaceutical world, you've seen the good and the bad and you can have that conversation.
Abe Baldonado:I sure as heck can't. I don't know a whole lot about pharmaceuticals. Well, it's not that difficult. I know a little bit, but maybe you could educate me a little bit.
Didi Okpareke:Yeah, no, it's not that difficult. I think it's as simple as why is everyone on medication, but they're still
Abe Baldonado:sick. Mhmm.
Didi Okpareke:I don't understand. Like, we need to fix that.
Abe Baldonado:Yeah.
Didi Okpareke:Right? And I I really do I really do like what this current administration is doing, you know, as they do it. They're they're addressing those those problems nationwide. You know, America is an amazing country. There's no reason why we should have as much chronic disease as we
Abe Baldonado:have. Right.
Didi Okpareke:You know, Our children shouldn't be suffering from chronic disease, and we were seeing that get worse and worse and worse.
Abe Baldonado:Yeah. I mean, you see now younger people dealing with diseases that you weren't expected to get until Right. Your later years. Or maybe never. Or never never.
Abe Baldonado:Yeah.
Didi Okpareke:We took the poisons out of our food, like, what what would that do? Right. And it to me, it's so interesting to see, you know, the people with their, like, picket signs and they're like, no, you know, keep the poison in the food. I'm like, keep the poison at you guys, that makes no sense.
Abe Baldonado:Oil and gas is bad. Yeah. Yeah. Gas is
Didi Okpareke:You know, so those are like the simple things that we should have addressed a long time ago. Absolutely. Know, maybe we'd be looking at different statistics now, You know?
Abe Baldonado:Yeah. I mean, I think we see it the rise in autism cases. Even just the other day, my wife and I tried the new hot Cheetos without all the red stuff. Right. I'm like, why did they have us eating this red stuff for ages?
Didi Okpareke:Right.
Abe Baldonado:You know, when it didn't have to be there because the new ingredients that they did, all natural, no artificial flavors, no colorings, tasted exactly the same. And I'm like, why why would they give that to us for all those years?
Didi Okpareke:Exactly. Yeah. I mean and you mentioned even about oil and gas. I met with someone from Nemoga. I invited the person to come to the pharmacy.
Didi Okpareke:And usually, like, I want you to come to the pharmacy so you can see. But when you come, I show you around. I show you my lab, you know, where we actually make medication, the machines that we use, all the supplies that we use. And when someone thinks of oil and gas, they only think oil and gas. But it was very interesting to have this official come from Nimoga and say like, oh, yeah, that machine, that's oil and gas.
Didi Okpareke:Mhmm. You know, that piece of equipment, that's oil and gas. This supply that you're using, that's oil and gas. So a lot of people don't understand that oil and gas penetrates every single sector of life. Absolutely.
Didi Okpareke:You know? And it's critical.
Abe Baldonado:Yeah. I previously worked for Demoga. Oh, okay. I did their external affairs and community engagement outreach. And I used to go into schools and I used to have these conversations with students.
Abe Baldonado:I and I would ask, what have you heard about oil and gas? Yeah. And it would immediately be pollution Yeah. Poisoning our water. Killing all the roaches.
Abe Baldonado:Yeah. Killing all the roaches. We don't like cockroaches, so might be a good thing. Right. I said, it's much more than that, you know.
Abe Baldonado:And I remember speaking to classrooms full of kiddos, and I would say, how many of you love your makeup? All the girls would raise their hand. Love my makeup. Exactly. Like petroleum byproducts.
Abe Baldonado:Yeah. Like gas.
Didi Okpareke:Like the lashes?
Abe Baldonado:Yeah. You like the lashes, the hair extension, I mean, anything. And again, for the boys, as you say, how many of you love your Jordan shoes? I love Jordan shoes. Yep.
Abe Baldonado:Love your Nikes. They all raise your hand. I'm like, those rubbers, everything is all made from oil and gas. Yeah. How many of love knowing that you have access to some of the best health care in hospitals?
Abe Baldonado:Even at our worst in America, we still have greater health care access than many other countries.
Didi Okpareke:Of course.
Abe Baldonado:And what has prompted that? Like, keeps hospitals running?
Didi Okpareke:Right.
Abe Baldonado:The advances in medical science. What has done that? It's oil and gas. Like, that has delivered our our growth and our innovation And to be so blessed. Industries.
Didi Okpareke:Right? Yeah. Like, to be so blessed with this natural resource. You know, imagine the states that have to go get it from somewhere else. For us, it's our home, And you so it's why don't we support the industry to advance life in New Mexico?
Didi Okpareke:You know, the everyday life of the family, the unit in New Mexico. Why don't we use our resources to push that forward?
Abe Baldonado:Absolutely. You know? And that's true conservation, right? We live with the natural resources that we have been blessed to have, But we also conserve them. We ensure that it is safe, that we do it in the best ways possible and that we continue to innovate.
Abe Baldonado:Yeah. And the conversation I always have with folks is that our oil and gas folks live in these communities. They don't want poisonous air. They don't want poisonous water. Like, they send their kids to school in these same communities.
Abe Baldonado:And so
Didi Okpareke:But that's why that's why we have regulatory bodies. Mhmm. Right? So, like, even in pharmacy, you know, I'm not just rolling around like, okay, what you need? What you need?
Didi Okpareke:You know, it's it's highly regulated. Yeah. You know, from my license, the license on my company, how we practice pharmacy, like, all of that is governed by the FDA, the DEA, the Board of Pharmacy, Pharmacy, you you know, know, USP, like all these regulatory bodies and guidelines and that we have to comply with, you know, it could be the same, but still allowing me to be innovative and creative for the people that come to me for products and services.
Abe Baldonado:Absolutely. And also removing some red tape that makes it harder for me to do business as well. Like, there's some unnecessary red tape that we always see in bureaucracy is that, hey, this isn't really needed. It doesn't do anything. It just makes my life harder, but it doesn't provide any protections.
Abe Baldonado:It doesn't do anything. It just makes it harder for folks like me to start up their own business.
Didi Okpareke:That's why you stand up and you go to Washington.
Abe Baldonado:That's right. And on that note, Didi, on top of everything else that you've done as a businesswoman, as a mother, you are now running for Congress. What has that been like? And if y'all haven't followed Didi, please do. You can find her website at ddforcongress.com.
Abe Baldonado:Learn more about Didi. But what has it been like traveling around Congressional District 1? What are you hearing? What's keeping people up at night?
Didi Okpareke:Oh, man.
Abe Baldonado:That's a loaded question, I think.
Didi Okpareke:Yeah. Let's go back.
Abe Baldonado:I'm sure you've heard a lot.
Didi Okpareke:So let me tell you about one of my favorite experiences as I've traveled around. Rio Do So was beautiful. I think before then I'd only been to Ria Dosso maybe once or twice. But my favorite was in Torrance County in District 2 with commissioner Schweback. And I pull up and, you know, I I go to him after leaving work.
Didi Okpareke:Right? So I'm wearing, like, slacks and, like, a nice top. And and so he says, yeah. You know, go ahead and cut that left right there. I'm like, oh, cut a left.
Didi Okpareke:Like, this is just a field. I'm like, do you have an office? And and so I end up on his farm. And the only time I remember being on a farm was in California when I was growing up, like a school field trip or something And like so, you know, I'm on his farm and he says, alright. What do you want, kid?
Didi Okpareke:And I'm like, first of all, we're probably the same age. Maybe. And so I said, no. I just, you know, I just wanted to introduce myself. I wanted to come and see you.
Didi Okpareke:And he says, do you wanna see the farm? I'm like, yeah. Absolutely. Yeah. Let's see the farm.
Didi Okpareke:And so we get in his truck and what are those thing those, like, little flies that, like, jump around and they weren't grasshoppers. I don't know. Something. And they're, like, all in his truck, and I'm like,
Abe Baldonado:oh, god. You know?
Didi Okpareke:And he's just, you know, just driving and
Abe Baldonado:They're like his best friends. Yeah. I got a name for all of them. Yeah.
Didi Okpareke:You know? And so I had to tell myself like, Didi, calm down. You know, calm down. Like, get real, you know? So I I ignore the things that are like flying all over and
Abe Baldonado:I
Didi Okpareke:start asking him questions about like the land
Abe Baldonado:Mhmm.
Didi Okpareke:And being a farmer in New Mexico. And is it hard? Is it easy? Are you making money? Like, what is this life about?
Didi Okpareke:Because I'm a city girl, you know, and not even not even big city. I'm like a Albuquerque girl, you know.
Abe Baldonado:Kind of country,
Didi Okpareke:but still
Abe Baldonado:kind of little urban, little rural.
Didi Okpareke:Yeah. You know, like Chicago is like too much for me. I'm like, my god, I gotta go home, you know? But he starts telling me about how this was his father's land, you know, and what it means to the family and how to be a farmer and what farm bills mean, the impact that they have, that that has to be my best experience yet. Like, I I learned so much.
Didi Okpareke:And I think he knew that I was being genuine because at the end of that visit with him, he turned to me and he said, he looked me dead in my eye and he's like, you've got to be the most real politician I've ever met.
Abe Baldonado:I'm like, yes. Exactly what I
Didi Okpareke:want But that's exactly what this is about. Right? Like, I don't know politics. I've never done this before. But that's exactly why these positions were created.
Didi Okpareke:So that people like you can wake up and say, you know what? I don't like the fact that we have this policy in place, and I want to make a change. And you rise up and you become one of the leaders, and you make the change that you want to see. So that's that has that kind of sums up like my experience in CD 1, you know, I've been in Bernalillo County for a long time. I actually live in Sandoval County, but right on the border now.
Didi Okpareke:But going out outside of that comfort zone and meeting people in different areas, you know, Rep Parlin Vincent in in Rio Doso, amazing experience. But I love it. I think what I've discovered about CD one is I actually love CD 1. I love the fact that, yeah, it's been gerrymandered and, you know
Abe Baldonado:Mhmm. But Well, and I was gonna ask that. Right? Because you have Torrance County mixed in with a big chunk of Albuquerque, Rio Rancho. Right.
Abe Baldonado:And a lot of times, there's a little bit of disconnect, you know? And I think what you find too much is that we all have something in common. And that is the beauty of it is that we are all alike more than we are different. Right. But how do we bridge those conversations?
Abe Baldonado:Because, you know, there are certain things that the farmer and whose land you were on, what keeps him up at night may not be keeping people up at night in Sandoval or Bernalillo County.
Didi Okpareke:But but that's also the beauty of it,
Abe Baldonado:though. Mhmm.
Didi Okpareke:Right? Because then when I see myself as a representative, that takes a lot of versatility in one person to be able to listen and clue in and say, oh, wait. I need to vote on this because this is gonna affect my people here.
Abe Baldonado:Right.
Didi Okpareke:You know, you're you don't you're not serving all of the same people. We all have different needs. You know, unity brings us together. Love brings us together, but you really got to pay attention. And I don't think that that's what's going on right now with the current person in in the seat.
Didi Okpareke:You I
Abe Baldonado:agree. And I think what has been missing, NDD, you kind of speak to this, is that you go out and talk to the people. Yes. You talk to them about the issue. Too many times, folks right now have their minds made up or they just believe what they've heard and, you know, they're getting it from one source.
Abe Baldonado:So initially, they're like, well, you know, where I get my news from, this is what they said and this is what I believe. Well, it's like, okay. Well, go have that conversation. And and I agree. I think a lot of our representation in New Mexico, they don't educate New Mexicans on the issue.
Abe Baldonado:They talk the very high level talking points, sometimes the divisive ones. Right. And don't actually have a conversation with them of like, hey, let me tell you why we need to support this farm bill. It may not impact you. Right.
Abe Baldonado:But it impacts your neighbor over in Torrance County Mhmm. Who is farming that field Alfalfa. That's getting the alfalfa. And depending on the type of farmer, maybe even the produce that you're getting at your local farmers market or even in your grocery store, you know, you don't just go to Walmart and pick up your produce Right. And pick up your milk.
Abe Baldonado:Right. A lot of this stuff is happening right outside of your community by farmers and ranchers right here in New Mexico. And, you know, oftentimes they're struggling. So creating that balance and that dialogue of you may not agree with it here because you're hearing this.
Didi Okpareke:Right.
Abe Baldonado:But here's what it's actually impacting. It's it's your neighbor and is your neighbor. He may be in Torrance County, but he's your neighbor. You all share the same representation. And
Didi Okpareke:to take the emotion out of making those decisions that have such a major impact on how we live in CD 1. There's no emotion about it, you know? And I feel like right now so many people are just driven by emotion. You know, all this madness when it's as simple as we need the money to do x y z. Yeah.
Abe Baldonado:You know, we need the money pragmatic piece.
Didi Okpareke:Very pragmatic. You know, there there's no emotion. I I don't know. I think maybe I just gained that skill from being a business owner.
Abe Baldonado:Yeah. Well, and it's also I feel you're relatable. You you wanna you don't wanna be the typical politician. I'm gonna tell you
Didi Okpareke:everything you wanna cold and hear. Is too expensive.
Abe Baldonado:At the end of the day, your roots are here and you're like, I'm New Mexican just like everyone And when I have this conversation with you, I just wanted to be a New Mexican and New Mexican. I don't want it to be that I'm the politician. It's just like, hey, I'm looking out for you. What what are the issues? How how can I help?
Abe Baldonado:And I think New Mexico needs a lot more of that because we don't have that right now, and we don't have any representation in congress right now. You know, last election cycle, almost half of New Mexico voted for this administration that's currently in the White House, but yet New Mexico has no representation. So that that to me is problematic and
Didi Okpareke:It's just an imbalance.
Abe Baldonado:Yeah. Absolutely. And so it's great when we get fresh new voices now to say, hey, I want to represent my community because I live here. I have stake in the game. I have my business here.
Abe Baldonado:So, yeah, I'm invested. My kids go to school here. You know? Like, there's a lot of investment there. It's like, hey, let's have this conversation.
Didi Okpareke:Let's bring people together. Like, they wanna hear a sound voice. Mhmm. You know? Not not a not a voice that's erratic or irrational.
Abe Baldonado:Right.
Didi Okpareke:Like, just a sound voice. Even Right? If you
Abe Baldonado:Or even very
Didi Okpareke:Right. And I think we see
Abe Baldonado:a lot of that today.
Didi Okpareke:You know, but just something that makes sense. Like, even if you don't agree, you can at least hear me and say, oh, I I see where you're coming from. I I understand that logic.
Abe Baldonado:But And that's real progress. Like, okay. Hey. You don't agree with me yet.
Didi Okpareke:Right. I
Abe Baldonado:got you to, like, I don't agree. I'm good. Got you to understand me just a little bit.
Didi Okpareke:Jeez. Absolutely. You know?
Abe Baldonado:So, Didi, what are some of the key things that you're looking at right now as you move forward through this primary season going into the general? What are some of the top priorities that you're really caring about right now that you've seen and just heard from folks in Congressional District 1?
Didi Okpareke:Yeah. I think first of all, we have to give a strong hand clap to all of our soldiers who are currently facing the forces that be. So I'm gonna clap for them.
Abe Baldonado:Yeah. Amen. I'm a I'm an army brat.
Didi Okpareke:Oh, nice.
Abe Baldonado:Yes. Absolutely.
Didi Okpareke:Yeah. That's one thing that I didn't do with my life that I wish I did. I wish I joined I wish I joined the military.
Abe Baldonado:I wish I had so funny story. I had two options getting out of high school. It was go to college Right. Or join the military. That that those were my dad's two options.
Abe Baldonado:Of course, I I went to college. And when I was finishing college, I said, maybe I wanna join the military. He said, no. Why would you do that? I just sent you to college.
Abe Baldonado:Right. But, you know, my dad did over twenty years in the army, and then my brother also served in the marine corps. So Wow. Thank something that I look back that I I kinda regret as well that I I didn't do that. But, also, I know my parents wanted me to forge my own path as well.
Abe Baldonado:But oftentimes when you have that rich history of your family being in the military service, if you miss that opportunity, you kind of sometimes regret it. Like, oh, man. What would it be like? It would have been and I know my dad and my brother had some wonderful experiences and
Didi Okpareke:Yeah.
Abe Baldonado:Oftentimes maybe not so pleasant experiences as well. And that's just something that when
Didi Okpareke:It comes along
Abe Baldonado:with it. It comes along with with the the position. But I I couldn't agree with you more that our our troops and and our soldiers need support now more than ever Yeah. Because they are the defenders and protectors of freedom.
Didi Okpareke:Right. Right. And I I every time I, you know, look at what's going on, I'm just like, wow. How brave do you have to be, you know Mhmm. To try to like refuel midair?
Didi Okpareke:Yeah. I could never. I'd just be like, can I just go make some Tylenol somewhere?
Abe Baldonado:And often times these are young individuals responsible for that. Right? It's a 20 year old that's operating that that you're like, oh my god. I would not have trusted me at 20 years old.
Didi Okpareke:Yeah. No. Yeah. I mean, so I love I love, you know, the fact that we have a lot of brave people at the at the forefront of the fight for us, and I appreciate them. That has to be known.
Didi Okpareke:They will always be supported by me. But what's at the forefront? I think the economy Yeah. Is at the forefront. How the New Mexican family survives, not just today, because I think that sometimes we can be shortsighted and sometimes we can even see beyond our nose.
Didi Okpareke:You know? We just like, fuel price. Oh my god. It's increased by 40%. What are we gonna do?
Didi Okpareke:You know? Calm down. Yeah. Calm down because what about fifty years from now? What is it going to be for the New Mexican family?
Didi Okpareke:You know, for the family in CD one, what are we doing today that will have an astronomical impact on the family fifty years from now, securing the future. And to tell you the truth, that's why I'm doing what I'm doing. Because not only do I have three young children, but what about my nieces, my nephews, You know, what about the children who are not yet born who we hope to Your
Abe Baldonado:kids, their future children.
Didi Okpareke:Exactly. You know? So we have to really focus on what is being done today to kind of reset America's position in the world to make sure I I'm sure you don't wanna wake up tomorrow and see America is number 10 in the world.
Abe Baldonado:No. Definitely
Didi Okpareke:not. We want to be number one.
Abe Baldonado:Yeah.
Didi Okpareke:We want the dollar to be number one. We want the economy to be number one. You know?
Abe Baldonado:And we also want to make sure that the homeland is protected. Exactly. Are safe. Would be naive to believe that there are not adversaries out there that want to see harm to our way of life in America. They're they're
Didi Okpareke:right here in our society.
Abe Baldonado:They are. They they've they've been integrated in their sleeper cells. And I I always have this conversation with friends and family. You are naive to believe that these people are in your communities already waiting for the moment to attack.
Didi Okpareke:Right.
Abe Baldonado:To attack freedom, attack our republic. Right. And democracy and the freedoms that we oftentimes take too much for granted.
Didi Okpareke:And
Abe Baldonado:and that's just it. And you mentioned the gas prices, you know, we're about a week or two into this right now where we've seen them elevated. And the question I've posed to a lot of friends and family is, why weren't you complaining during the last administration when they were averaging
Didi Okpareke:We go like this.
Abe Baldonado:This price.
Didi Okpareke:We don't know.
Abe Baldonado:They they were averaging this price Yes. For years.
Didi Okpareke:For years. For years.
Abe Baldonado:And there was no frustrations.
Didi Okpareke:Mhmm.
Abe Baldonado:And inflation was at some of its highest. Mhmm. But now because gas prices rose for two weeks, we're grumbling about this. And I said,
Didi Okpareke:you can't have it But both see that that's the emotion that I'm talking about. That's that's the emotion that that rouse people up and they don't they don't realize calm down. Yeah. Because you control the energy of the world. You control the world.
Abe Baldonado:Mhmm. Yeah. I mean, every
Didi Okpareke:Do you want it now? Right. Or never? Or We have to Do
Abe Baldonado:do you want it in the wrong hands? Right. You know, China, Russia, you know, all these folks are all trying to gain ground to have some sort of influence to, you know, either make America go lower and it's standing to be in a position to fight America economically, but also, you know, digitally as well Yep. Through markets. Mhmm.
Abe Baldonado:You know, there's a lot of things that a lot of times people don't put together is that, hey, the decision by this administration to go into Iran, it's probably much bigger than you and I will ever
Didi Okpareke:know. Exactly. Right.
Abe Baldonado:Exactly. And so it's easy to say, that's a bad idea. Well, is it? Because we don't know what the long term
Didi Okpareke:impact your badge says secretary of state
Abe Baldonado:Yeah. Or president. Yeah.
Didi Okpareke:Or then you'll never know. So
Abe Baldonado:Yeah. CIA, whatever whatever it is, FBI. And and we just do not know.
Didi Okpareke:And and you have to trust that what is being done is truly to position America to be first.
Abe Baldonado:Absolutely. And what I've always shared with people, Democrats and Republicans have always acknowledged the threat that Iran post. Of course.
Didi Okpareke:Course. A long time ago. Always known that.
Abe Baldonado:I mean Yeah. Just even last year during the presidential election Mhmm. Kamala Harris Mhmm. Admitted that Iran posed the biggest threat.
Didi Okpareke:Yep.
Abe Baldonado:So again, why are we so shocked that we took action to defend our western way of life?
Didi Okpareke:Right. Right. And that's what I've enjoyed the most. You know what I mean? Like the freedoms here, like in my father's country, my mother's country, which is Nigeria, West Africa, the most atrocious things are happening.
Abe Baldonado:You And and I read and if you all get a chance, please visit her website. Didi, you talk about why your family fled to America. There were wars happening.
Didi Okpareke:Oh, yeah.
Abe Baldonado:And they fled here to achieve the American dream.
Didi Okpareke:Yep. One of the most brutal wars that Africa has ever seen. You know, my father was a soldier in that war, you know, and being being a survivor of, you know, two attempts, he was shot in the head two different occasions, survived both times, you know, came to this country, became a pilot, survived a plane crash where he was piloting the plane. I don't know why he was he was flying from like San Francisco to Oakland, something like that. I'm like, you could just walk.
Abe Baldonado:Your kids are gonna love having these conversations
Didi Okpareke:with Yeah. And then after after that, becoming an engineer. You know, my mom became a nurse in this country, both came legally, became US citizens, and and gave birth to me and my siblings, and we are the American Dream.
Abe Baldonado:Yeah.
Didi Okpareke:You know? And I always say that to people that I see that another reason why I'm standing up to do this is because would another me be possible in this country? Is it possible for there to be another me? And if we don't secure the American dream, the American way of life, the answer is no. I I can't imagine stepping outside of my house and needing a male escort.
Abe Baldonado:Right.
Didi Okpareke:Like my son. Yeah. Or an uncle or a brother. I love just being able to get in my car and just go wherever I Free. Wanna You know?
Didi Okpareke:I can drive from California all the way to DC without any limitations or But I think the American people have to understand this is what we're fighting for.
Abe Baldonado:Yeah.
Didi Okpareke:To maintain our way of life.
Abe Baldonado:It's easy to forget how privileged we are in America. And we see it, you know, even family of mine that came from Mexico
Didi Okpareke:Mhmm.
Abe Baldonado:Will tell you about the cartels. Mhmm. You know, they Mhmm. Do roadblocks. Like, they're it's something very that we're not accustomed to here.
Abe Baldonado:Mhmm. We're we're not accustomed to it. And they deal with that in other countries where you have cartels now putting roadblocks in the middle of the road, figuring out who's coming through. And it puts a lot of people's life in danger. And that's not a norm that we should want here in America that we get to that point where you can drive freely coast to coast
Didi Okpareke:Oh, yeah.
Abe Baldonado:And not worry about, hey, what state am I passing through that someone's gonna stop me?
Didi Okpareke:Yeah. Maybe just drive. Even my mom tells me stories of before the war broke out in Nigeria. It's the Biafra war from 1967 to 1970 that at the airport, you would be stopped by a soldier and he'd ask you, Biafra or Nigeria?
Abe Baldonado:Wow.
Didi Okpareke:Depending on the way you answered, that determined if you took the next breath or if you fell.
Abe Baldonado:Wow. And that was in the middle of an airport? Yeah. Where you should be safe?
Didi Okpareke:Yeah. You know, it's so to me, I'm like, we're fighting for so much more, you know. And if I can be a part of the fight in this way, then so be it, you know? So help me God, you know? It's it's not an easy decision, but I do I do see hope on the other end.
Didi Okpareke:You know? I do see I do have a vision for how beautiful New Mexico could be if we just had all of the stars aligned and everything started falling into place the way that they should be, New Mexico, oh man, truly, like one of the most most I call it the the gem, the jewel of the Southwest. We You know?
Abe Baldonado:Have an opportunity here that we've not capitalized on in our entire existence as a state. We are rich. Yes. We are rich in culture. We are rich in resources.
Abe Baldonado:We are rich in just human connections, family, values, God, faith.
Didi Okpareke:Yes.
Abe Baldonado:And we just have not utilized it in in a way or we've not elected the right leaders to lead us that way. But the potential is there. Oh, yeah. And that is something that we've always talked about. We always hear, you know, the statistic.
Abe Baldonado:New Mexico's worst at this. New Mexico's last in this. We're first in all that's bad. But we are not a poor state. We are a rich state.
Abe Baldonado:Yeah. We just need to take it to that next level now. And I'm excited about your candidacy because it is refreshing to hear a candidate speak about that hope, opportunity that exists ahead of us. We just have to believe in it for ourselves because it is there.
Didi Okpareke:Yes. I truly believe that, you know, it is there and just right over the hump, you know?
Abe Baldonado:Yeah.
Didi Okpareke:We just need people to be enlightened in New Mexico. I think some minds are a bit dull, you know?
Abe Baldonado:Well, and I think because of the hardships that we see across our state, I think a lot of folks have either become content or conditioned to believe that this is okay or this is yeah. It's never gonna change or this is the best that it gets. Right. It's like, no.
Didi Okpareke:There's No.
Abe Baldonado:Yeah. A lot of opportunity here. It can get a lot better for you, for your family, for your grandkids.
Didi Okpareke:Yes.
Abe Baldonado:For just future generations, it because is
Didi Okpareke:me, I'm I'm a constituent. Right? So even for me to be able to look up at the current leaders and feel proud, like I I don't I don't have that sense of pride. Yeah. You know?
Didi Okpareke:And I want New Mexicans to to look up and say, I'm going to DC.
Abe Baldonado:Yeah.
Didi Okpareke:Because I wanna talk to this person. Right. You know? And I'm gonna tell them, my water's not hot enough. You know?
Didi Okpareke:Like, I got a flat tire on the road. You know what I mean? Like, we're so disconnected from our leaders.
Abe Baldonado:We are. Well, and that's the problem. Right? We often forget, they work for us.
Didi Okpareke:Yes.
Abe Baldonado:And we need to elect people that want to work
Didi Okpareke:Yes. For Yes.
Abe Baldonado:And I think the status quo right now in New Mexico, we have leaders who have been in there forever that Entitled. Yeah. They they forget. It's all about them. It's all about their position that they hold in Washington and not say, hey.
Abe Baldonado:No, I'm a do gooder. I I wanna work on behalf of my constituents because that's who elected me. That's who I work for.
Didi Okpareke:Yeah.
Abe Baldonado:And they could fire me tomorrow. And I don't believe that the current leadership right now feels like I could be fired any day.
Didi Okpareke:Yeah. I bet. But you gain that experience through life. Right? So like me as a mom, my kids remind me every day.
Didi Okpareke:You work for me, mom.
Abe Baldonado:Yeah. I
Didi Okpareke:gotta be somewhere at 05:00.
Abe Baldonado:But you're gonna remind them when you're older. Right. You're gonna work for me.
Didi Okpareke:Exactly. You know, as a pharmacist, I'm reminded every single day. I practice pharmacy for the community, not for myself.
Abe Baldonado:Right.
Didi Okpareke:The knowledge I have as a pharmacist is for the community. I'm reminded as a business owner. I get up every day for the community.
Abe Baldonado:I employ folks. I give them opportunity. Right. And I I kind of work for them. Right.
Abe Baldonado:If I don't if I don't exist and my business doesn't exist, then they're out of a job.
Didi Okpareke:I dare you to miss payroll once. Done. You know, not pay your taxes. Done. Yeah.
Didi Okpareke:You know, there there's so many so many things that I've been through in my life that show me that servant leadership is really what living is about.
Abe Baldonado:Those are the two best words that we love here on the Chile Wire, servant leadership. And that's what we aspire to create. And that's the dialogue that we want to have with folks is that we want to have servant leaders in our community because that's really what builds our community up.
Didi Okpareke:Yes. Definitely. You know, that that's what we need. So that's what me running for congress is all about. I really hope to to see the change, you know, in New Mexico for the better.
Abe Baldonado:Absolutely. And, Didi, God bless you. God bless your family because I know it's not an easy decision. There's a lot that goes into it. It's a lot of reflection with family
Didi Okpareke:Yeah.
Abe Baldonado:Friends. You have one of your friends here in the podcast. They were gonna throw a shout out to Michelle. Yeah. She's been here.
Abe Baldonado:Michelle and Didi are gonna do cartwheels to wrap up.
Didi Okpareke:No. I already did my cartwheel. I landed on
Abe Baldonado:a cartwheel coming into the studio. We don't have it on camera. She did it before.
Didi Okpareke:Yeah. I'll do it again.
Abe Baldonado:It it takes a lot strong group of folks around you in a circle to to make this happen. And so we wish you all the best on the campaign We love to share your message. Anything that we can do to share out your material because I believe that New Mexico needs more leaders like you, Dee.
Didi Okpareke:Yeah. Definitely. You know, America first, New Mexico right after. Absolutely. Please support the campaign, ddforcongress.com.
Didi Okpareke:Right now, we are in fundraising mode. We have a lot to tackle. We need to get out there into Bernalillo County, you know, so that we can meet all the voters and explain to them who we are. Take the emotion out of it. Let's get rational.
Didi Okpareke:Let's get real. Absolutely. You know, let's get real about the future of our children, which is really what this is about. If we do not do something now, our children will ask, so what was in 2026? What were you thinking?
Abe Baldonado:Yeah. Why did you let this happen?
Didi Okpareke:Exactly. Exactly. And I do not want that blame. I'm sure none of us do. No.
Didi Okpareke:So we have to be the change that we need to see for our future.
Abe Baldonado:I couldn't agree more. Yeah. Didi, thank you for coming on the Chile Wire. We wish you best luck. Thank you.
Abe Baldonado:Anything that we can do to help promote any functions or engagements that you all have upcoming, we'll be happy to share those in the Chile Wire. And we'll also provide you a link to ddforcongress.com on this podcast episode, so that way you can learn more about Didi. Didi, thank you so much. God bless you. God bless your family, and God bless your campaign.
Abe Baldonado:Thank you. And y'all, that's it for this week's Chile Wire. Bye.