ANDY NNAMDI UBA - AN ENIGMA WITH A POWERFUL AGENDA
By Ugo Harris UkandU
I am disputing an article in the Nigerian Tribune Newspapers of Of
Teusday, October 14 2008 titled "Andy Uba: Time to move on" by Ken
Ogbodo.His article is attached at end of my article below. Reading through
his story I do feel that he has a right to make his points, but he should
also look at some positive dynamics that Mr.Andy Uba created from his work
with former president Olusegun Obasanjo in the last administration.
Our group have been researching and deliberating on political leadership
and issues that relates to Igbo nation since the advent of the new
democratic dispensation in Nigeria since 1999 to present under President
Musa Yaradua administration, and particularly under President Olusegun
Obasanjo Administration. we have also tried to look into the ways and
means Igbo leaders have been able to re-position Igbos into the main
stream and scheme of things since 1999 in Nigeria political and economic
leadership circles, and we have came to a certain conclusion after due
diligence, research, and consultation . The last nine years of democracy
in Nigeria has created a new Igbo leadership that by commission or
omission; Some of whom have been able to elevate and highlight the
problems and needs of the Igbo nation. some have been failures and did not
add much for Igbos in terms of political and economic leadership no matter
the circumstances they are faced with;and quite a few have succeeded in their own little ways in defining
Igbos positively and working for Igbo progress under the suffocating
intrigues in Nigeria public, economic and political sphere.
Our research took us through all the political office holders of Igbo
descents in Nigeria since 1999 to present, from the Governors, senators,
Federal ministers and Federal positions, House of representative members,
State and local leadership in Igbo land. we have had some great ones and
achievers and we also have had some failures. On a scale from one to ten
based on a higher number, some Igbo leadership in the last nine years
deserve high grades of at least six high point out of ten for their
political leadership and perseverance despite all odds. These leaders
tried to give Igbos credible, dignified seat and voice on the table when
Nigeria political, economic and military decision are made. Some of these
great former and current Igbo leaders who did their best under the
Nigerian suffocating circumstances to name a few are senator Anyim Pius
Anyim Former Senate President, late Dr. Chuba Okadigbo a former Senate
President, Senator Ike Nwachukwu, Governor Orji Uzoh Kalu, Dr. Chukwuma soludo Governor of the Central
Bank, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala former Finance minister, senator Uche
chukwumerije, Senator Annie Okonkwo, Chief Ogbulafor Current PDP
Chairman, Chief Ojo-Maduekwe Nigeria current Foreign Minister, Chief
Roachas Okoroacha a top PDP member, Mrs. Ezekwesili former minster of
Education and Natural resources,Dr. Maurice Iwu current INEC Chairman,
Mrs.Dora Akunyili NAFDAC Chair-woman, Ambassador Aguiyi Ironsi Former
Minister of state for Defence etc, and Mr. Andy Nnamdi Uba, Former
Special Assistant to President Olusegun Obasanjo on Domestic Affairs
(1999-2007).
When history will look into the work and activities of all the Igbo
leaders especially at the Federal level under President Olusegun Obasnajo,
a name that history will not forget and whom history will eventually judge
fairly is an obscure Mr. Andy Uba the former Presidential assistant for
domestic affairs for his insight and contribution to the re-emergence of
Igbo ingenuity into the Federal government of Nigeria during president
Olusegun Obasanjo Administration. Despite the problems he has had in the
courts nullifying his election as the governor of Anambra State ; the fact
will remain that Andy Uba is a rare gem who has been unfairly
misunderstood and vilified for actions and deeds committed by other people
and political associates close to him. The question is, should a person
be judged by other people actions when it is convenient for political
expediencies? Mr. Andy Uba should be judged on merit and on his actions
and not judged on innuendo, lies and fabrications by his political enemies just to gain political points.
As recent events has proven that most of the allegation and speculations
against Mr. Andy Uba did not hold water and it were just that -
speculations without merit.
Under President Olusegun Obasanjo Administration, the highly Urbane and
debonair Andy Uba for the most part single handedly played powerful role
and had a voice in all the political, economic, diplomatic and military
appointments of Igbos to some of the most powerful position in the
Obasnajo Administration. He was an important and reliable (Kitchen
cabinet ) member in the inner workings of the Obasanjo administration, and
he made input on important national decisions of Nigeria political,
economic and other vital national decisions ever taken at any other time
in Igbo history while working for former President Obasajo in the new
democratic dispensation.
we will dare to say that from our research and consultations Mr. Andy Uba
played a major role in the final selection and vetting of all the powerful
positions Igbos held under Obasanjo Administration and in most cases
these were positions Igbos have never held in the history of Nigeria like
the Finance minister, Governor of Central Bank, Defence Minister, NNDC
Chairman and all the other powerful positions Igbos held under president
Obasanjo, the was direct and indirect involvement of Mr. Andy Uba input
and suggestion in these appointments.
President Obasanjo had so much confidence and trust in Mr. Andy Uba,
that he traveled every where and all over the world with him, and he
delivered in every assignment from the presidency. In the process he did
a lot of good but also a lot of his efforts did not turn out quite well,
and I am sure he has learnt his lessens and he is a strong young man and
we have not yet seen the last of him.
As an enigma, Andy Uba has been defined by his detractors as an evil
empire, a riddle and a puzzle as his conduct and actions is always a
mystery to people as an enigma, but according to people who are close
to him and who know him well like Mr. Ransome Orem of website
www. Nowpublic.com/andy_uba_ a_ rare _ symbol _ of _ humility. He wrote it
more clearly by the way he defined the true Andy Uba we have come to know; quote “Andy Uba is too dignified to be rubbished, too humble to be
insulted, too great in all such wisdom to be belittled, and too meek to be
associated with brazen evil. A technocrat of sorts, a man of repute, a
man who lets his mind rather than emotions direct his actions. Andy Uba
should really deserve commendation rather than cynicism and wanton
criticism. Humility is a rare virtue, one quite difficult to imbibe; so it
takes both intelligence and wisdom to be truly humble. It takes foresight
and the willingness to be great, to live by the principles of true
humility. ” unquote
When Igbos stop pulling down young and dynamic leaders among us, but
instead support, teach and comfort them even when they make mistakes;
then we can truly build new, constant and dynamic leadership for Igbo
nation and for Nigeria , instead of the constant turn over and
discrediting of our credible new and upcoming leaders.
Ugo Harris UkandU
Nigeria Democracy and Justice Project
Washington, DC