Andy Uba was sworn in as Anambra Governor after 2007 election. But he was removed about two weeks later through a court order which faulted INEC for conducting the poll in the state when current Governor Peter Obi’s tenure was still running. The tenure expires next year.
Now Andy, who in April 2011 contested and won a Senate seat and he is chairman, Senate Committee on INEC, is warming up to return to the seat he vacated. He is not deterred by the setback of 2007.
Only recently, while making known his ambition to gun for the coveted office inside Enugu Sports Club, Uba was quick to put the matter straight to doubters. Looking straight-facedly at reporters, he said: ”In 2007 when I ran for governor, I had a vision for Anambra State, within the few days I stayed, people got an insight into my plans; my vision was to change the face of Anambra. I was pushing for a plan to transform Anambra but unfortunately, it didn’t work.”
Almost immediately after, youths, under the aegis of Omambala Youth Forum, announced their resolve to support the governorship ambition of Senator Andy Uba. They did so at a meeting in Otuocha. The forum comprising youths from the four council areas of the state namely: Anambra East, Anambra West, Ayamelum and Oyi, said their decision to support Uba followed his record of achievements since he went into public office.
According to the forum chairman, Innocent Offordile (Eselu Aguleri), who presided at the meeting, though Uba represents Anambra South in the Senate, youths in the four local government areas which are in Anambra North would always remember Uba’s gesture to the people of the area during last year’s flood disaster.
Said he: ”We have declared support for Senator Uba because he has told us officially about his governorship ambition. He has done it before and we believe that he will do it again.”
Also, in his recent writing, vibrant commentator, Emeka Oraetoka, recalled the entire saga that heralded the sacking of Uba from office in 2007 vis-à-vis Governor Obi’s comment on the zoning formula for Anambra State preferring his successor to emerge from Anambra North.
He went a step further by stating what has now become an obvious popular position on the matter.
“On the issue of governorship election in 2014, the questions the people of Anambra State are asking Peter Obi are: Does he want the governorship election in 2014 zoned to Anambra North based on his interpretation of equity? What happens to the fellow that was asked to vacate office 17 days after being sworn-in for an offence he did not commit? Has justice been done to the zone or possibly the local government area where Andy Uba hails from? Which, out of equity and justice, ranks higher in order of priority?
“From the point of view of politics, what constitutes equity? Is Peter Obi implying that all registered political parties in Nigeria must cede their governorship positions to Anambra North, come 2014? Is he as well saying that Anambra North has no electable candidate[s]? Or is the governor saying that the people of the zone are weak in all ramifications and therefore cannot compete politically in the state?” Oraetoka asked.
Uba sometime ago organised a Town Hall meeting for his constituents in the seven council areas that make up his Senatorial district to explain his activities in the Senate and to subject himself to their scrutiny.
“I believe that the people you represent at whatever level must come first in what you do because it is not by accident that they entrust their mandate in your care. The mandate one holds in trust for the people is sacred and the product of a collective conviction that he is worthy both in character and ability to represent their interests,” adding that no leader worth his salt should take the people he leads for granted.
Reflecting on his eventful stay at the Senate so far, Uba had told his constituents that apart from sponsoring four bills and co-sponsoring 12 motions, he had attracted not less than N16million projects to the area. He clarified that all the projects were domiciled in the 2012 budget.
Ahead 2014
Ahead next year’s governorship election in the state, Anambra known for its vibrant politics, has thrown up tens of aspirants apart from Uba looking forward to succeeding incumbent Obi. Among the fine crop of such personalities are Comrade Tony Nwoye, Paul Odenigbo, Chukwuma Soludo, Nicholas Ukachukwu and Emmanuel Anosike, all from the same PDP fold as Uba. Besides, there are those from the other parties. They include: Senator Chris Ngige, ACN; Senator Annie Okonkwo, APC; Ifeanyi Uba, Labour and Hon. Uche Ekwunife, APGA, among others.
No doubt, given the peculiarities of Anambra politics, the list is sure to be longer as the countdown reduces from months to weeks. The attendant drama, tension, intimidations too, and upsets and near-upsets, all recurring features of the politics of Anambra State add up to give the four-yearly event its uniqueness. But one good thing about the foregoing is that by the time the chicken comes home to roost, all frayed nerves somehow will find some way to smoothen out.
PDP ticket Of the array of aspirants from the Anambra PDP fold who seek to succeed Obi, it appears Uba stands a good chance, just as some others.
When a newspaper (not The Nation) sounded out residents of Awka and Uga area of the state last week, it was clear that the senator from Anambra South stood a chance as PDP prepares to nominate their choice for Anambra 2014.
“I really don’t see it that way. I know with the people and party members by my side and God honouring us, I look good to pick the PDP ticket. But I know also that other contenders are there; and they are no push-overs. We are all trying to see how we can serve our dear Anambra State in the office of governor. We pray things work out,” Uba said in that publication.
Even as he exudes confidence, the senator recognises the fact that other contenders have the right to aspire to the same office. However, like he always underscores, promotion comes from God.
•Dennis Sami, the Publisher of The Nigerian Pilot, writes from Abuja
