OPINION :— Chris Uba: A plea for forgiveness
By Josephat Nwalusi
Thursday, January 11, 2007

THERE is perhaps no Nigerian who has in the last four years been demonized as much as Chief Chris Uba, the well-acknowledged godfather of Anambra State politics who in 2003 single-handedly delivered the state to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), from the House of Assembly; to the House of Representatives; to the Senate; to the governorship and to the presidential elections. The most important reason for the poor image which Chief Uba has had in the media is the fact that he did not have a competent and honest press secretary until recently.

Another reason for this unflattering image is a series of errors he committed as a result of his young age; This is to be expected from a young man who became a successful government contractor at an early age. For example, Dr Chris Ngige, the former Governor of Anambra State and a major beneficiary of Chief Uba’s effective godfather politics, has said that the chief asked for three billion naira compensation no sooner than he was sworn in. What Chief Uba did was in order, but we may quarrel with his lack of patience as the government had just been inaugurated. Sponsors of candidates into political offices the world over are entitled to one form of compensation or another.

Still, this short article does not intend to justify some of the controversial steps taken by the chief. Rather all he seeks from all Nigerians, especially the people of Anambra State , is forgiveness. Chief Uba’s trespasses have been a mistake of the heart, instead of the head. The plea for forgiveness has become imperative in the light of developments in the political scene as the 2007 general elections draw nearer and nearer. At this juncture, a special appeal goes to the national leadership of the PDP, which, to all intents and purposes, will be well beaten in the state in the forthcoming election if it continues with its obduracy of presenting a list of unmarketable candidates, especially in the gubernatorial race. All we want from the people is forgiveness, total forgiveness.


You see, Chief Uba was not personally responsible for all the actions attributed to him. As anyone who knows him at the personal level can easily say, he is not a man of violence. Therefore, the three-day mayhem which took place in the state from November 10 to 12, 2004 , was not actually his brainchild. He has been a mere fall guy. The person who goaded him to do all this should be well known to the public by now; recent events in the state reveal this person clearly. It is so funny that the person is now denying him publicly so as to realize his gubernatorial ambitions. Can this person deny using his presidential connections to get the police to work in tandem with the rioters? Why didn’t the police arrest even one rioter even when the Nigerian Television Authority Network News was showing the hoodlums burning every government property in sight and destroying personal possessions like cars and luxury buses of innocent individuals?

As has been stated above, Chief Uba is not a man of violence. In other words, he would not have been directly responsible for the abduction on July 10, 2003 , of Dr Ngige, who was then the Governor of Anambra State . Who gave the police Assistant Inspector General, Ralph Ige, the order to kidnap the Governor? Is it possible for a mere contractor like Chief Uba to give such an order? To repeat the obvious, only someone with deep presidential connections can give an order of this nature and it will be carried out with alacrity. Indeed, the time has come for Nigerians to demand a high-powered judicial probe panel to look into the mysterious and sudden death of Mr Ige and find out if his death has anything to do with a desperate effort by some people to cover their tracks.

The ruling by dismissed Justice Stanley Nnaji of the Enugu High Court on January 2, 2004 , purportedly ousting Dr. Ngige from office as Anambra State Governor has often been attributed to the so-called machination of Chief Uba. But this is far from the truth. Who conceived the whole judicial charade? Wasn’t the idea conceived in the Abuja office of a former presidential aide? Who provided the N15m which was used to bribe the dismissed judge, out of which one of his wives used N5m to procure a Toyota Prado jeep? The whole world has been made to believe that Chief Uba was behind all this tragic drama, but the truth is that his role has been minimal, if not non-existent. He has just been the fall guy, heroically bearing his cross in silence.

What no-one can ever deny Chief Uba is his assured place in the history and scheme of things as far as the PDP is concerned. His enthusiasm to risk his life and personal integrity for the party is well acknowledged by the leadership and the rank and file of the party. He is a gallant fighter. He fought the All Progressives Grand Alliance(APGA) and other formidable opposition parties to a standstill; hence PDP’s victory in Anambra in 2003. It is only a tested and valiant fighter like Chief Uba who could make it possible for Chief Olusegun Obasanjo of the PDP to defeat a whole Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu of APGA, in the presidential election in Anambra, the home state of Ikemba who turned APGA into a formidable vehicle for Igbo mobilisation throughout the Southeast during the last election. In appreciation of his wonderful work, the PDP made Uba a member of the Board of Trustees, even though he is far less than 50 years, the minimum age for the PDP board of Trustees membership.

Things are falling apart and the center cannot hold in the Uba brother house, hopefully this may turn around and be a blessing to Anambra and Nigeria. May there not be peace in every houseand families holding Nigerians hostage

I don't seem to understand what u are trying to pass acorss! Are a beneficiary of Andy Uba campany organization? If u are know it quite well that God will not allow the family to rule Anambra state. No good Anambra man will like to hear Uba family. Do u know how he Uba treats Governors and other govt officials because his papa is the president. Let Obj goes let us know who is who Nigeria. How has he attracted federal Influence in Anambra State? Only to make unncessary noice. Those who are devil themselves don't look like violent by mere seeing them. It is matter of their heart. Man I don't undertand u!

The point i was trying to make by making this available to nairaland readers was that the Uba families are now turning on each other, by reading that commissioned opinion any egghead will know the writer was passing on the blame from chris to Andy. I am just damn grateful that this is happening now, so we all know who to cast our votes for. DEFINITELY NOT THE UBA BROTHERS.

Personally I think it's time we should all ask that question of who killed Ralph Ige. The A I G of police

I think Anambrarians are taking a big gamble by waiting for the elections to vote against Andy Uba. They should be more pre-emptive
If they do a thorough dig into Andy Uba's past they will see a damaging document to petition him to INEC. He should be prevented from taking part in the elections.

I think those who sponsored the report on "Andy Uba the face of fraud" should go the extra mile to send a proper petition against his qualifications or lack of it. Without those INEC will have no tools to disqualify him.

Besides that owing to the guys desperation and smartness he may have acquired US or UK citizenship which makes it illegal for him to stand elections in Nigeria. People should research this.
I dont care how they go about it really just wanna see the man go down otherwise the 3m Anambra indigenes are in soup.