Anambra 2014: ‘The same people that voted Uba in 2007 will do it again

From IKENNA EMEWU, Abuja
Ahead next year's governorship poll in Anambra State, there have been
plenty of analyses on the expectations of Anambrarians, their fears
and who must not succeed Governor Peter Obi.
Here, Prince Dennis Sami, Senator Andy Uba's childhood friend speaks
on the points that sell the contender for the next year's poll.
The polity is getting charged in Anambra State, and your friend is at
it again after an earlier foray in 2007. How bright do you see his
chances?
Yes, in the countdown to historic events of such proportions
anywhere,such developments are common. There must be jostling and
alignments. So it is expected to be so,especially a state like Anambra
wherethere is very high political awareness.But in all, a good
candidate is like a good product. It is never abandoned on the shelf.
So, as a personality I have known for years, I am inclined tobelieve
that the Senator Andy Uba I know has not changed one bit and will
still pull his weight. Don't forget that but for the intervention from
the court that truncated his tenure he had won the election and sworn
into office. So I know the same people who loved, accepted and voted
him into power will still do it again.
To underscore this, the people of the state, even at a time the state
was under the control of another party still voted him a senator on
PDP platform. So Uba has come a long way and I am convinced the same
people that voted him earlier will repeat same.
But the peculiarity of the forthcomingexercise in the state makes it
of interest to every indigene of the state, nay Nigerians all over.
The fact that Anambra is a very important fulcrum that connects all
parts of the country courtesy the River Niger bridge, throws it up as
the state to watch whenever important elective exercise like the
forthcoming governorship election approaches. And given the strengths,
categorizations and character of the contestants that the exercise
throws up for the contest, the gripping effects of the campaigns that
lead to the poll proper, are way out of the ordinary.
But you know there are many other outstanding contestants who can
deploy their clout to crowd out Uba?
I know for the 2014 contest there are no fewer than 18 people that
have indicated interest to govern the highly commercially vibrant
state; a state made up of successful businessmen, locally and
off-shore; many self-made; a state where the political awareness
stands very tall in the South East geo-political zone and one that in
terms of political sagacity, its people cannot be counted among bench
warmers.
There are also heavyweight aspirants from other political parties,
especiallyfrom the ruling party in the state, APGA. But put together,
I believe that the PDP looks set to take the reins of government in
the state if only the party can conduct its primaries very well devoid
of rancor and bad blood given the fact that Uba, current senator
representing Anambra South Zone and former governor stands out among
the rest. I am sure he is highly favoured to pick the party's ticket.
So what exactly are the qualities inUba that stand him out?
Senator Uba is indisputably a man of high patriotic disposition
refusing to allow the allure and attractions in foreign countries to
which his endeavours took him to distract him.
Uba maintained contact with situations in Nigeria; and that accounts
for his interest in philanthropic and developments projects he carried
out in the country soon after his return. It was this pursuit to
contribute to the socio-economic and political development of the
Nigerian people that encouraged him to join in the United States the
presidential campaign of PDP in 1998.
Also, given the benefit of hindsight, many understand that it was
Uba's zeal and dedication to the people of Nigeria in the Diaspora for
example, that earned him the recommendation of the then presidential
candidate of PDP, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo who invited him to serve in
Nigeria having noticed his deep sense of loyalty, philosophical
beliefs, and originality. Subsequently,he was appointed the Special
Presidential Assistant to the President on Special Duties and Domestic
Affairs.
He was then to work with the then president to make good policies and
appointments, which impacted positively on many interests groups in
Nigeria. He had cause not too long ago to debunk claims by a few
critics on his role in the Obasanjo administration. I remember quite
well that he said he did not disgrace the Igbo race. When he came in,
somepeople said give this Igbo man just six months, he will do one
thing or the other and he will be removed.
But he trusted in God, and did what he was supposed to do and remained
there for eight years.
So his service in the Obasanjo cabinet is all that qualifies him?No,
that definitely can never be the case. Uba armed himself from the
beginning with the goal of rendering public service to his people. As
PDP gubernatorial candidate in the 2007, he contested and won the
governorship ticket but was removedfew days later through a court
order, which faulted INEC for conducting election in the state when
Governor Peter Obi's tenure was still running.
There was a good reason for that political victory for a man that was
almost alien to the state's politics. But he took the development with
a good measure of philosophical calmness preferring to allow God have
His way. In 2007 when he ran for governor, he was clear over the fact
that he had a vision for Anambra State. Within the few days he was in
office, the people got an insight into his plans, vision and was ready
and out to change the face of Anambra.
He had already started pushing his plan to transform Anambra but
unfortunately, it didn't work. He saw everything that happened then as
the will of God. May be he wouldn't have been alive now. Also it made
him to learn the character of his people because he just came from
abroad and joined Obasanjo's administration, from there he moved to
the Anambra government house.
But he was not done as he went on toindicate his interest to deliver
democracy dividends to the people ofhis state from 2014 with the
assurance that one day, he will show what he wants to do for his
state. He is aware that another race is starting in Anambra, and if it
is God's will, he will be there to showcase the plan hehas for the
people. It is left in the hands of the people to decide their leader,
and that is the foundation of democracy. So Uba is totally relying on