PRESIDENT BUHARI REPORTEDLY SHUNS ANDY UBAH, APC GUBER CANDIDATE; AS APGA MAINTAINS DOMINANCE IN ANAMBRA POLITICS

By Christian ABURIME

President Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces is one man whose personal integrity cannot be faulted.

Some of his harshest critics may criticise the President on other issues but not on his personal integrity as an incorruptible man who detests corruption in whatever guise

The President has shown this unassailable aspect of his personal trait with the mature way he has reportedly kept the APC gubernatorial candidate in Anambra State, Mr Andy Ubah, at arms length despite repeated efforts by Mr Ubah to have an audience with him

It will be recalled that Mr Ubah emerged as APC gubernatorial candidate for the November 6, Anambra governorship in a manner that was adjudged as most undemocratic. A process which majority of his Party Stakeholders roundly condemned.

Dr Chris Ngige, a serving minister in the Buhari’s administration and a chieftain of APC in Anambra State politics had described the process of Ubah’s emergence as the party’s gubernatorial candidate as undemocratic and totally unacceptable to the party stakeholders in the state.

Like the wonders that will never cease to end in this part of the world and against all odds, Ubah was able to manipulate his way despite the people’s cry and protestations

The primary election which was conducted by Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State was roundly and harshly criticised by APC stakeholders and Nigerians across the country

Today, Ubah’s major challenge is the issue of credibility and acceptability which has badly tainted his emergence. President Buhari being a man of intergrity who had himself severally challenged electoral fraud in 2003, 2007 and 2011 appears not to be willing to be part of the open injustice other candidates suffered in the hands of Mr Andy Ubah during the so-called primary election which never held in the first place

To prove to Nigerians that he was not in support of Mr Andy Ubah’s electoral heist in Anambra, it was gathered that the President has bluntly refused to grant him any form of audience or recognition

For instance, it was gathered that when Governor Dapo Abiodun made attempt to take Senator Uba to the President few days after declaring him winner of a primary that never took place he was bluntly turned down.

And barely few weeks later, it was also reported that Governor Mala Mai Buni also made a futile attempt to showcase Andy Ubah to Mr President, it also met a brickwall.

He was said to have booked an appointment to visit the President with the newly decamped Governors of Zamfara and Cross Rivers as well as Senator Andy Uba for them to be handed over the APC flag. The attempt, it was learnt, failed woefully.

While already seated at the villa, Mr Andy Uba’s name was removed and he was asked to leave while the President received only the Governors.

Another interesting scenario was during the Salah period, Andy Uba was reported to have gone to Daura with the hope of seeing Mr President. He went in company of few Governors under the guise of Salah homage, perhaps with the intention of using the auspicious occasion to snap pictures with Mr President so as to flaunt it as an endorsement. Again, he allegedly met a brickwall as he was refused access into the President’s Daura home.

Not yet done, another futile attempt was made again by Governor Hope Uzodinma and Governor Mala Mai Buni to present Mr Ubah to President Buhari in a more tactical fashion. The mission was reportedly embarked on immediately after the inauguration of the National Campaign Council, the duo made some smart attempts to officially present Andy Uba to Buhari as is the tradition in the APC after inauguration of campaign councils, it was also turned down as well, in the most disgraceful manner

Perhaps, the last straw that broke the camel’s back, was the curious drama that played out during the President’s son wedding in Kano last week. This time around, another “special arrangement” was made with some Kano State Government officials for Senator Uba to have an encounter and photo ops with the President at the Kano State Governor’s lodge, unfortunately for them, it collapsed like a pack of cards, as there was a firm instruction that Mr Andy Uba should not be found in close proximity and neither should he be seen in the same room under any condition with Mr President.

Ubah was reportedly restricted to a “Special
Parlour” where unwanted visitors usually cool off. He was there for several hours without anyone attending to him

The pertinent question on the minds of APC faithfuls and the people of Anambra is “Why has the President refused to congratulate or even meet Senator Andy Uba two months after he was declared winner of APC primaries in the most controversial manner”?

The President through his body language is simply telling APC party faithfuls and Nigerians that he will not subscribe or be part of any electoral injustice. He will always stand firm for justice and equity at all times. This is a vital lesson for politicians to learn, that going forward, it is not going to be business as usual with Mr President even as we gradually approach the 2023 presidential election.