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Opinion: Anambra 2021: The Fake Ghana-Must-Go Generated Momentum of Andy Uba
By Nduka Maxwell
Recently, I read that one of the strategies of Mr. Andy Ubah’s campaign is to generate actions that will give Anambrarians the impression that he has the momentum in this latter part of the Anambra governorship race. None of these actions are organic or real, rather they are poorly choreographed by Mr. Ubah and his campaign team. Since his campaign is not well funded or properly structured, he has opted to use distractions and seemingly shiny objects to get attention. The Uba campaign is not well funded because he is having personal financial troubles and has tried unsuccessfully to sell off some of his properties to fund his campaign. In addition, he has not been getting the expected funding from the national APC or APC governors because they do not support him.
This is not surprising considering that his opponent, George Moghalu is Rotimi Amaechi’s candidate in the Anambra gubernatorial race. When George Moghalu was outsmarted and cheated out of a chance to win free and fair by Andy Ubah in the Anambra APC governorship primaries, he refused to accept defeat and has been mounting a legal challenge ever since (the case is still awaiting a ruling). The minister of transportation and former governor of Rivers State is standing by Mr. Moghalu as he challenges Mr. Ubah. It is for this reason that Mr. Andy Ubah has been starved of funds from the National APC leadership and governors; which has left his campaign poorly funded.
Mr. Andy Ubah’s claim to have momentum has been interrogated and found to be false. Instead, what has been discovered is that Mr. Ubah and his campaign are generating artificial and fake “momentum” by paying people some sums of money, and promising others even larger sums of money to decamp from their political parties to his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). As these defections hit the news, it makes it appear as though he has grassroots support.
Mr. Andy Ubah does not have grassroots support in Anambra. Sons and daughters of Anambra are wary of Andy Ubah and the Ubah brothers because of their penchant for violence, destruction, and degradation at the expense of Anambra and Anambrarians. The voters of Anambra do not want Andy Ubah and they will prove it come November 6 at the governorship polls.
Numerous politicians are skint or hard up financially because the Muhammadu Buhari-led government has destroyed the Nigerian economy and caused hardship from border to border. So Mr. Ubah has been seeking out politicians who are either financially hard-up or greedy and has given some money and promised others even larger sums to decamp to APC.
Reports on the ground indicate that Mr. Uba has promised some politicians like Hon. Lynda Chuba-Ikpeazu N500 million to decamp from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). There was a moment in time in politics in Nigeria that people would promise people appointments, contracts, or slots for appointments. It shows the state of the rottenness of the brand of Andy Uba’s and the Uba brothers’ politics that people are being promised raw cash which he expects to draw from Anambra state’s treasury should he win.
In the final analysis, the Ghana-must-go-driven defections do not depict real momentum in the race, but it shows who is who. It shows who Ndi Anambra can trust to hold the line and fight for their interests, and who will bow down and roll over and allow the needs and agendas of the Fulani APC national party to come before the needs of the sons and daughters of Anambra. There is a saying that goes “with friends like these, who needs enemies?”. With people like Mr. Andy Uba, the Uba brothers, Hon. Lynda Chuba-Ikpeazu, and Senator Stella Oduah, does Anambra and do any Anambrarians need enemies?
All Anambra voters need to vote on November 6 in the gubernatorial poll and make a statement for their future and the future of their children. Are they going to choose the people who see the entire Igbo tribe as a dot on a map to be wiped out, or will they choose a leader to govern the state and move Anambra into the greatness it is capable of? Hopefully, they will do the latter and rescue Anambra from falling into degradation and handing over the state to Fulani elements whose plan is genocide and robbery.
Nduka Maxwell is a journalist and lecturer at the Enugu State University. He believes in developing the democracy of Nigeria
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Prof Mike Ozekhome, has insisted that former President Muhammadu Buhari should be blamed for his successor, Bola Tinubu’s preference to appoint persons from his ethnic Yoruba language group to key government positions.
Ozekhome, while delivering an address at a symposium on human rights organised by the International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) held in Abuja on Wednesday, claimed that the Buhari-led administration polarised Nigeria along ethnic and religious lines.
The rights activist noted that it is not surprising that President Tinubu was following a similar trajectory since it was tolerated by gullible Nigerians when Buhari was at the helm.
“When I hear today the northerners complain that Tinubu has ‘Yorubanised’ Nigeria, with so many Yorubas in the highest places in Nigeria, they are indeed making a point. But the question I would ask is: where were you when Buhari, for eight years, literally ‘northernised’ every position in Nigeria? You were either a northerner or a Muslim,” he said.
“I cried, I cried, I wrote and wrote. I wrote tons of articles. One of the 50 books which I presented on my 67th birthday was titled: ‘How Buhari Mismanaged Nigeria.’ Some people called it ‘na we,’ this is our man, and even if he is riding roughshod over all of us, it doesn’t matter.
“Hear no evil, see no evil because he is our man. Even if it is not benefitting us, the fact that he is our man is sufficient. Once it is no longer our man, we must also take up arms. No country grows like that.”
At the event under the theme; “Unity in Diversity: Embracing Freedom, Equality, and Dignity for All,” he warned those in positions of authority against compromising the unity of Nigerians in pursuit of tribalism, ethnicity, and sectionalism.
He described the 1999 constitution (as amended) as flawed, adding that there is a need for a new constitution with inputs from Nigerians, irrespective of their ethnic and religious differences, on the way forward for the country.
“We need to redefine ourselves, not the present system where thieves are rewarded with doctorate degrees,” he said.
The Commission’s Ambassador-at-Large and Head of Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria, Ambassador Dr. Duru Hezekiah, emphasized that this year’s theme presents a significant opportunity, drawing attention to the complexity of human rights linked to the multicultural and multi-ethnic composition of over 250 ethnic groups and more than 500 languages spoken in Nigeria.
He remarked that recurring ethnic and religious conflicts have threatened Nigeria’s national unity and stability, noting that the diversity of Nigeria’s population offers both challenges and opportunities for cultural exchange and understanding, which can promote national unity and cooperation.
According to him, the one-day symposium, held on Wednesday, 11th December 2024, consequently offers a singular opportunity to acquire knowledge and reinforce ties with other stakeholders to promote “Unity in Diversity: Embracing Freedom, Equality, and Dignity for All.”
Additionally, he mentioned that the occasion signifies the official swearing-in of IHRC’s new officials: Ambassador Dr. Malami Shehu Ma’Aji (MFR), who was appointed IHRC Special Advisor on Intergovernmental Affairs for the Africa Region, with Chief John Paul Ochemba serving as IHRC Advisor on Special Monitoring Mission Nigeria, and Dr. Kingsley Nwokoma as IHRC Commissioner in Nigeria, all of whose appointments were duly approved by the IHRC Secretary-General, Prof. h.c. Rafał Marcin Wasik.
The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, has issued a restraining order against human rights activist and lawyer Dele Farotimi, prohibiting him from further publishing, selling, distributing, or advertising his controversial book, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System.
The ruling was delivered by Justice Peter Kekemeke following an ex-parte application brought by Kehinde Ogunwumiju, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, and managing partner at Afe Babalola’s law firm.
The court’s order extends to Farotimi’s agents, publishers, distributors, sellers, or anyone else involved in the dissemination of the book, whether in hard copy, digital formats, or through electronic or social media channels.
The injunction will remain in effect pending the determination of a motion on notice for an interlocutory injunction, filed on December 6, 2024.
Justice Kekemeke also directed the Nigerian Police Force, Department of State Services, DSS, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, and other security agencies to seize all physical copies of the book wherever found.
These agencies are required to submit an affidavit of compliance within 72 hours of receiving the order.
In a related case, the Oyo State High Court granted a similar interim injunction against Farotimi, barring him or any associates from further printing or distributing the book.
Justice Mufutau Adegbola issued the order after hearing an ex-parte application filed on December 9, 2024, by Adebayo Adenipekun, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria from Afe Babalola’s firm.
The Oyo court directed Farotimi’s lawyers to be notified of the motion, which has been adjourned for hearing on January 7, 2025.
An Allied Air Cargo aircraft with registration number 5N-JRT, on Wednesday, skidded off Runway 22 of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, prompting a temporary shutdown of the airport.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) confirmed the incident, which occurred at 10:05am, adding that five people were on board the aircraft. All passengers were safely evacuated without injury.
FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mrs. Obiageli Orah, said: “The Airport Emergency Response Team is on the scene along with accident investigators.
“The runway is being cleared and is expected to reopen for operations as soon as possible. We would like to thank the aviation community and the general public for their understanding and patience. We also request that all speculation be put on hold until the preliminary report is released by the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB).”
The evacuees were taken to the FAAN clinic for medical checks as a precautionary measure. The incident has drawn the attention of aviation stakeholders, while efforts are underway to restore normal airport operations.
