Ubah Changes Anambra’s Political Equation Since Chief Ifeanyi Ubah, an oil magnate indicated his intention to contest the 2014 governorship election in Anambra State, the political equation in the state seems to have changed, writes Davidson Iriekpen From the moment Chief Ifeanyi Ubah declared his intention to contest the 2014 governorship election in Anambra State, the political equation of the state has begun to embrace fresh extrapolations. It is therefore no joke that nearly everyday, especially on weekends, his support base swells as the people anxiously look forward to meeting him. Last weekend was however no exception as he visited Ogbunike, the home town of the late former Senate President, Dr. Chuba Okadigbo, where he was treated to a reception by a large crowd. However, for those who could read the political climate very clearly, the visit was no more than a sign of things to come as the countdown to 2014 inches closer. Ubah, who emerged candidate of the Labour Party (LP), was virtually mobbed by well wishers as more than 7,000 people followed his motorcade and converged at the Committee of Fathers’ Club headquarters, to give him a tumultuous welcome. For over 20 minutes, the crowd at the club stood and chanted his traditional title: Ebubechukwu Uzo Nnewi, in adulation. Ubah who would not let the opportunity availed by the reception pass him by quickly mounted the rostrum. Sounding quite political and somewhat ready for the task ahead, he told the elated crowd that as soon as he is elected governor they would live to put many worried behind them like kidnapping and armed robbery. He promised to pay the minimum wage to civil servants and beautify the cities and villages as part of initiative to clean up the mega messes that abound everywhere in the state. He assured the people that he would look into their plights concerning their homelessness by looking into their housing needs and assisting them to move from shack-shelters to permanent houses. Suddenly, the Managing Director of the Capital Oil and Gas Limited has become an issue in Anambra politics such that anywhere he goes in the state, the place is literally shut down. Perhaps, it is for the reason his supporters now refer to him as the “hurricane.” Interestingly, it is not only the youths that are clamouring for Ubah; the market women, prominent politicians and traditional rulers, have also joined in the clamour for change. Although, many of his opponents have always dismissed his popularity, he however put this to test recently when his sister wedded in Lagos. To the awe of other guests, 24 out of the 30 members of the state House of Assembly attended. It was a record in the history of the lawmakers attending a function. In addition, there were 61 Igwes, 107 town union presidents and hundreds of traders in Anambra and environs in attendance. One of the indigenes of the state, Ugochukwu Amadi, explained why they desperately root for Ubah. “This is the greatest philanthropist we have ever seen. He has surpassed others. When he becomes the governor of this state, all our problems will stop.” Already, his aspiration to govern Anambra has continued to receive increasing support as over 10 political groups, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Association of former local government chairmen and councillors, All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and, Labour Party, among others pledged support for him. Recently, hundreds of their members stole the show at the burial ceremony of the late literary icon, Prof. Chinua Achebe, which was attended by Ubah. They followed the governorship hopeful to the burial and held several hours of strategic meeting on the election. Speaking recently on Ubah’s ambition, the Third Republic Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Agunwa Anaekwe, said the business mogul has the exposure and the business clout to become the governor of the state, adding that having invested heavily in Lagos and other parts of Nigeria, the time has come for him to replicate same in his home state. He noted that the criteria for anybody aspiring to lead any state should be based on track record, adding that the only way to put to an end to the present imbroglio in Anambra politics, would be to identify with one who has a track record of performance in the community, state and country in general. Multi-millionaire businessman and philanthropist, Chief Arthur Eze, has also thrown his weight behind the oil magnet in his quest to become the next governor of Anambra State. Although Eze is a card-carrying member of the PDP, he said his decision to give his blessings to Ubah was because he saw him as the most reliable person to govern Anambra State after Obi. He said he was convinced on Ubah’s genuine intentions for Anambra people and therefore, there was the need to give him necessary support. He observed that Ubah had consistently used his personal resources to empower many people in the state, including the less privileged, adding that such was the kind of person the state needed to be in charge. “Whoever I say that will be governor of this state will be the governor because most of these people you see are not interested in the welfare of the people.” Ubah also reinforced this confidence recently when he boasted: “I want it to be on record that I made this official declaration to contest during this meeting with Ikoro, an umbrella association for all the practicing Igbo journalists in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). I want to make it clear that I’m not seeking to become the governor of Anambra State because of selfish enrichment but to build industries, provide employment for our discouraged youths that are joining kidnapping in droves out of hopelessness. “I will concentrate on security to curtail the spate of kidnapping in the state. I will network security to reduce crime in the state to zero level. I want to provide employment by building industries. I have plans of building at least 50 factories across all the local government areas. Education and healthcare are also among the things I would focus on,” “We have begun our sensitisation campaign. I want to appeal to the media to urge the government of Anambra State to leave me alone. I’m very sure that if there is a free and fair election in Anambra State, I will win landslide with at least 70 per cent of the votes. I am only nursing an ambition to govern Anambra State and that does not mean an automatic ticket to be declared Governor of Anambra State. “I am ready to render my service and I declared that when it was ripe, but some would be denying their ambition, hiding under people to canvass an interest. Those behind all these media war and online assassination of my character, image and person have taken the joke too far. But I am happy that our people are loving me the more and giving me hope that I will win the election no mater there evil plans against me,” he said in disappointment. He also lamented alleged desperation in some quarters to stop his aspiration. Although, his campaign has not been a smooth sail, he has continued to face hostile opposition. Specifically, he held Governor Obi responsible for his travail with the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC). “You will agree with me that if I was guilty of all that my enemies petitioned against me, I would have not come out to run for the governorship race. I have suffered, I have paid the price and I believe that l have won the battle because one with God is in majority. It is unfortunate that since I declared my intention to govern Anambra State, war has been waged against me without me knowing what my offences are. “I have kept quiet and have not reacted to all the allegations targeted at me directly and indirectly just for my ambition but I am fed up with all these. One day, I will talk and the people would be surprised. Every day they would say I am owing this man or that man yet they would not bring any proof against me and when I read all these I wonder the sin I have committed to deserve them,” he said. But in a swift reaction, the Senior Special Assistant on Media to Obi, Mr. Valentine Obienyem, said ”Every day you open up the papers, it is Dr. Ifeanyi Uba and Chief Victor Umeh only talking about Mr. Peter Obi. Ifeanyi Ubah says Obi is after him. Is Obi Access Bank, Coscharis, First Bank, Brittania U, Union Bank or any financial institution that said that Ifeanyi Uba owes? Where does Obi come in?” Interestingly, Ubah who appears set for the challenge has also started to fault some of the claims that the incumbent government has simultaneously developed all sectors of the state in the last seven years of his administration. He said the governor’s claim was only achieved on the pages of newspapers, radio and television and not what was really on ground. “I am in the governorship race because this government is not the type of government that we want in this state. What we want is a government that will develop the state in the real sense of the word and not a government of deceit. I am offering myself to serve the state, to bring about real development and positive changes. There is no proper accountability in the use of state funds. Look at the local government allocation that this government has been collecting since its inception, it will shock you to know that there has been no state audited account for the local governments since 2011 till date,” he said. He therefore promised to conduct local government election within 90 days of assuming office, if elected governor next year.
Posted on: Sat, 22 Jun 2013 19:15:17 +0000