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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
By Henry Ukazu
Dear Destiny Friends,
There’s no doubt that human beings by nature are insatiable. When we get one opportunity, we always look for another. When we attain one height, we always look for another accomplishment. Isn’t it true that the end of one mountain is the beginning of another.
However, I don’t think it’s selfish for anyone to dare to succeed.
Being ambitious doesn’t make one an opportunist or disloyal. It all depends on one’s perception or outlook to life. It’s just natural for one to dream big. It’s only ugly when the process one chooses to achieve his desires becomes dirty and nasty.
According to a former Nigerian presidential candidate and seasoned Economist, Mr. Peter Obi, “if you must be referred to as “Your Excellency”, then the process through which you arrived in office must be excellent”.
If you desire to be reckoned with on the journey of existence, you must be legitimately hungry for success. One’s hunger for success will facilitate the drive to accomplish great tasks despite daunting obstacles posing as challenges.
When one has this mindset, one will not be bothered by the noise which serves as obstacles and challenges along the way. Negative and weak minds are always concerned on why something won’t work. They tend to focus their energy and reasons on the obstacles facing them. But great and productive minds always focus their energy on the reasons why it will work. This is the spirit of an insatiable mind who is a goal- getter.
It’s instructive to note that we can’t please everyone. According to Bill Cosby, a famous actor, “I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everyone.” Isn’t it true that when you talk, people will still talk about you, when you don’t talk, people will talk about you, so whether you talk or not, people will still judge you, so, do what’s best for you. There’s nothing you can do to please human beings. Your best option is to live your best life.
To understand how the insatiable nature of man works, one must be oneself. You don’t have to “please” anyone. Be yourself, and don’t try to be like anyone just to curry favour. It’s important to note that when you are yourself, the people that matter will come through for you, and the people that don’t matter will gradually find the bearing in another space because those that truly care don’t bother and those that bother don’t really matter in the grand scheme of things.
Life has truly taught me to focus on the important things of life as opposed to the mundane things. It’s truly sad to see people spending more time on the little things of life, and spending little time on the important things of life. That’s just a misplaced priority.
When you are yourself, the best people can do is to copy or imitate your style. They can never imitate your creativity nor can take your originality from you.
We live in a world or society where people don’t generally care or show empathy. Most people tend to live around themselves, their family, and close associates. They generally find it hard to lift a finger to assist others for reasons best known to them. Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka once said, “we live in a wicked generation”, re-echoing the voices of a lot of people of the world. Some people in authority just have criminal expertise in amassing wealth of opportunities meant for the citizens without thinking of the citizens they are meant to serve.
It’s worthy of note that not everyone will like you nor support your work, but when you find people who truly care about you; please hold them tight. This is because despite having family members you have shown love and compassion, they might not still appreciate you even if you lay your life for them, they will still find something to say. Again, this is the insatiable nature of man.
It’s okay for everyone not to like you, normalize living your life for God, yourself, family and those that care about you. If everyone likes you, you have a problem.
Did you know that you can get a new family from friends, strangers, and acquaintances? These sets of people might appreciate you more than your own family members. They might not demand or under appreciate you like your family members and close friends or associates. Any little support you give them will be highly appreciated. Their focus is to see you do better.
In conclusion, as you desire to succeed in life, never give in to failure until you have made your last attempt, and never make your last attempt until you succeed. This literally means whatever you desire, dream it, think it, say it, and believe you can achieve it. This principle is generally applicable to relationships, businesses, family, personal and professional development.
Henry Ukazu writes from New York. He works with the New York City Department of Correction as the Legal Coordinator. He’s the founder of Gloemi. He’s a Transformative Human Capacity and Mindset coach. He is also a public speaker, youth advocate, creative writer and author of Design Your Destiny Design Your and Unleash Your Destiny . He can be reached via info@gloemi.com
A federal judge in the United States, on Thursday, put a temporary block on President Donald Trump’s attempt to restrict birthright citizenship.
The ruling imposes a 14-day halt on the enforcement of one of the most controversial executive orders Trump signed hours after being sworn into office for a second term.
It comes after lawsuits were filed by a total of 22 states, two cities and numerous civil rights groups.
“This is a blatantly unconstitutional order,” senior US District Judge John Coughenour was reported as saying during the hearing in Washington State.
“I’ve been on the bench for over four decades, I can’t remember another case where the question presented is as clear as this one is,” said Coughenour, who was appointed to the bench by a Republican president, Ronald Reagan.
Birthright citizenship is fundamental to America’s national identity, with the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution decreeing that anyone born on US soil is a citizen.
It says, in part: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.”
Trump’s order was premised on the idea that anyone in the US illegally, or on a visa, was not “subject to the jurisdiction” of the country, and therefore excluded from this category.
AFP
The Court of Appeal sitting in Akure, Ondo State capital has upheld the death sentence of Ramon Adedoyin, a prominent businessman and hotelier, for his involvement in the murder of one Timothy Adegoke, a former postgraduate student of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State.
Delivering the judgment on Thursday, the court affirmed the earlier verdict of the Osun State High Court, which had sentenced Adedoyin to death.
“The judgment of the High Court of Osun State stands. Adedoyin’s appeal is dismissed in part,” the court declared in part.
The Court of Appeal, however, set aside some aspects of the lower court’s orders, including the forfeiture of the Hilton Hotel and the order for Adedoyin to pay for the education of Adegoke’s children.
Furthermore, the court ruled that it had no jurisdiction to impose penalties outside the statutory provisions
Adegoke’s death was reported in November 2021 after his corpse was found at the Hilton Honours Hotel in Ile-Ife, Osun State, where he had lodged.
The hotelier had travelled from Abuja for an examination at a distance learning centre in Moro, Osun State on November 5 of that year.
He had checked into the hotel but was reported missing after two days. However, Adegoke’s body was found days later, leading to a probe that linked his death to Adedoyin and others.
In May 2023, Adedoyin and others were sentenced to death after they were found guilty of murder and conspiracy to murder.
But dissatisfied with the judgement, Adedoyin approached the Appeal court to dismiss the sentence and conviction.
The court of appeal, on Thursday, however, upheld the conviction and death sentence of the hotelier.
