ANDY UBA AND ANAMBRA POLITICS
By Hon. Chinedu Opukiri-Nkwonta
kpomnigeria4ever@yahoo.co.uk
So many people would immediately be jolted hearing me bring back this topic as the jostle for the most powerful seat in my State keeps gathering momentum.
The ghost of the previous nearly intimidated me into not saying exactly what I feel, I thought so hard about the barrage of insults that is guaranteed to emanate from different angles for different reasons, I was really shaken to stop, think and consider. Having done all that as I have always done on Andy issues, I am not really perturbed, I am dealing with it. It is a choice of following my mind or becoming a shadow of me, the thought of the shadow is more ghostly and frightening.
I have tactically decided to concede an area, not to address Andy as Doctor. This decision is a conscious consideration from my side not to throw shadow over the main issues, not really that it will make any difference. I only wish that people would have the ability to realistically deal with issues than limited and selfish bias that overshadow real issues.
Without staring any controversy, I really do not have any problems addressing anyone with what ever name they may want to be called. You can choose to answer Professor, triple Chief, Idengeli na Nawfia or be gay; I am not really bothered so far you are what you are in your own world and respect others on areas of shared interest. The titles do not deter or encourage me, I love to feel it to know it, first hand experience. I deal with people from my perception of them and that’s all. If I need to see a doctor tomorrow for an ailment, I know exactly where to go. Life allows us some exuberance and amusement and I do really think it is crazy for intelligence to be on duty 24-7.
Bringing Andy to the political table once more, every one that read my previous articles know my position with Andy. I have to admit today that my position has changed, on reasons. Firstly in 2007, I supported Andy mainly because he was ordained (whether we liked it or not) to be the governor of my State. In the event of that decision, I became very interested in him as to understand who he really was and his political agenda for my people. My position was, if his idea was to strip us of the small dignity we had as people, to harp it into his ears in very nice and firm ways that he could not do that to his people. It was important he was reminded he is a full fledged man with identity and that there are traditions from the part of the world that he comes from. It was important he knew he was being watched. Fortunately or unfortunately (depending on who is reading) I found out that Andy is a genuine human being that was 100% interested in developing his State, my State. The evidence was abundant during his campaign and the very small period he was in charge, ask the hoteliers and other businesses in the State, ask the okada man.
My main reason for bringing up this discussion again is not because I think Andy would win the next election, far from it, it is mainly to state the obvious fact that out of every one that I have seen come out for this governorship race in Anambra State, he comes amongst the top two that I am convinced has the interest of the ordinary masses of my State at heart, the man that would impact on lives. Whether I like him or not would not change the truth. The whole world can prosecute me for their own reasons (which I really do not care about) Andy Uba remains as far as I am concerned amongst the top two that have the capability and political will to make reasonable and visible difference.
Andy Uba has been destroyed by the political class and also some negative exuberance callously displayed by people around him, most he trusted. Most of his political injuries were self inflicted though mostly out of his naivety and his Anambra on-the-ground political ignorance. He did not know a lot about Anambra State till 2007 yet he was accused for every thing that happened in the State. So many people exploited his political ignorance, did so many things that were not very nice and passed the buck on him without him realising. His political opponents realised the game and were able to add to the damage knowing that Andy Uba would be the ultimate victim. His supposed representatives assured him of 1000% commitment, they milked his trust, support and magnanimity because they saw he was politically ignorant and vulnerable, a Nigerian political mugu.
Today in Anambra State and indeed the PDP politics, a lot of people feel he is the public enemy number one. So many mouths that he fed have all conspired and turned against him, he can really try but I do not see him breaking free from this political stench, it was a great conspiracy and it stuck stronger than arodite glue. This great conspiracy soaked into the system that most now feel his name is synonymous with corruption, wickedness, kidnapping, impeachment, headache, stomach up-set, toothache, miscarriage and most terrible illnesses, after all he called himself a doctor.
How can one really start telling the villagers that Andy Uba is no more responsible for kidnapping Ngige, impeaching Peter Obi, burning of government properties? How can one explain to them that Andy’s other name is not Obasanjo who has been noted to hate the Igbos especially the Anambra man? How can one really start explaining that Andy was not responsible for all the criminal activities that have happened in the State since the creation of Nigeria? As a politician, I would not dare to sell Andy to my worst enemy, not because he is not good, because he has been destroyed by politics, the same thing that made him, the same way politics destroyed Dr. C.C. Mbadinuju (Odera).
Do I think Andy Uba is good for my State, oh YES, any time, do I think he will get the PDP nomination; it would be easier for an elephant to pass through the eyes of a needle.
Andy lacked the core traditional intelligence to deal with a politically complex State like Anambra. He took a lot of things for granted mainly due to his naivety. Nigeria is a very fast country in so many aspects, if one is away from the country for just two weeks at a stretch, the person needs another two weeks on the ground to get back into the flow. In respect of some of us that have been abroad for years before coming back home, the Naija-and-content we left behind is definitely not the one that we meet, there is a type of street intelligence that is needed to survive, most of us lack it. Andy was lucky he walked straight into the presidency; the protection and the feel gave him the wrong mindset that every thing is the same every where, that is the foundation of his problems. 2007 election was an eye opener of real politics for him. If he will be honest, the true feeling may be more shocking than any life experience he has had so far.
Andy Uba experience and political humiliation by the courts may be seen as victory or even God’s intervention by some religious 419ners and their fans, my conclusion is that any diaspora Nigerian that does not take a proper study of Andy Uba Syndrome (AUS) and venture into Nigeria (whether in business or politics), shall fall victim, simple.
Andy Uba in all ramifications remain for me the best governor that we never really had, the most politically connected Igbo man in today’s Nigeria, an insider to the political class in the country but a man that became the victim of inexperience in today’s grass root politics of Nigeria. A man seriously let down by insincere and greedy animals he chose as his political associates, they exploited his ignorance and naivety. The selfish thoughts of these politicians denied the ordinary man the benefits of Andy Uba, Dr. Andy Uba, Chief Dr. Andy Uba.
Do I pity Andy Uba, Not at all; he has had a good time and shall remain relevant in the politics of Nigeria till death. My regret is that the masses never had the opportunity to benefit from his magnanimity, benevolence and great visions.
When I sit and remember the airport that would have started operations, the sea port that we would have been nearing completion at Onitsha and the employment possibilities of just these two missed, when I remember the massive boost that arts and sports would have gotten under him, I shake my head in complete disbelief. Andy got so close to transforming my State but the bastards stopped him.
Andy was not about the doctor prefix, they used that to distract us, he was about the masses and the masses of my State may never get him again. Politics made him and it has denied him the opportunity to show who he really is, almighty politics, great shame.
Do I believe in miracle, I must not answer that, do I think he has a strong case at the court, I am not a lawyer.
Can we discuss another time please?
Thank you.
