Politics

Anambra Guber: I’m The Best Candidate – Andy Uba

Published

2 years ago

October 21, 2021

Senator Andy Uba, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the November 6 gubernatorial election in Anambra State, says his antecedents among his people as a problem solver and human resources developer, positioned him as the best candidate to deliver on the job if voted into office.

Uba said his edge over all the other contestants is that he understood the gravity of the challenges on the ground, the solutions they require and people’s expectations.

He boasted that his structure across all the wards in the state has been in constant engagement with the people since the 2007 election of which he won but was removed from office when the Supreme Court ruled that Peter Obi had not completed his term.

Uba who stated this in Lagos while addressing reporters on his candidacy, however stated that it was ironic that people he once assisted in one way or the other including All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate, Prof. Charles Soludo, are in the race with him.

He expressed confidence of winning as he said; “I know my people. I know what they want. I know what they are going through.”

He promised to establish an industrial parks to drive industrialisation across the state and harness all the available resources of the residents towards the development of the state.

Uba said: “Industrial parks encourage rapid industrialisation through Foreign Direct Investment, expertise that we are reputed for, as well as the production of quality goods and services.

“That way, more and better jobs are created; more people are gainfully employed and can spend a part of their earnings in the marketplace, which boosts the economy, creates a bigger tax base for the government, and reduces the crime rate in the state.

“My government will work with the Federal Government to construct the Onitsha-Awka-Nnewi gas pipeline, which will become a boost to manufacturing in the state, especially the industrial parks we intend to set up.”

He declared that with the level of defections to the APC and the people wanting to belong to the centre, the party was confident of winning the election.

Uba who stated that Anambra would benefit a lot from joining the ruling party at the centre, added, “The centre is key. For 16 years, we don’t know what the centre means. You must open your arm and make sure you work with the Central Government. Once you do so, you will get a lot of things. Look at other states, look at Anambra.

“You can’t compare Anambra to Imo and Ebonyi States that have gone back to the centre. Second Niger Bridge is coming, look at other projects.”

He said the achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari in the South East are being concealed by the governors as the APC government has done a lot not only for the people of the South East but the entire country but their achievements are not well-publicized.

He said people cannot complain of marginalisation under APC when the same government is building the Second Niger Bridge and other major infrastructural projects in the region.

“When people are talking of marginalisation, how? Is it by building Second Niger Bridge? Is it by building all these infrastructures? The APC government is working but the governors are hiding whatever APC is doing. They can’t cover it this time around because once I get there, it is over. Nigerians and the world will see what APC has been doing,” he said.

Uba decried the worsening insecurity in Anambra State, and according to him, a proactive state government ought to have found a solution to the problem, as he recalled that he rose swiftly in 2007 to solve the same problem by visiting Ralph Uwazuruike of MASSOB while in detention, five times, to dialogue with him and his men.

He regretted that Governor Willy Obiano lacked the wisdom and skills of engagement and capacity to reduce youth restiveness through job creation and in the absence of such engagements, people have resorted to listening to non-state actors.

He said one of the ways to boost employment is to partner with the private sector through the provision of an enabling environment.

This is why he said infrastructural development, environmental upgrade, security, job creation, youth empowerment, among others would be part of his priorities.

Uba promised that if elected, he would conduct local government elections and pave the way for council autonomy.

He said it’s distressing that while N220 million was due to each of the 21 local government areas, the state government only releases a meagre N5 million as monthly allocation to them, though they are made to sign for the N220 million.

He asserts that this is why the state is so decrepit that even the governor does not stay in the government house.

Uba said he has the church’s backing, as he and his deputy, Emeka Okafor, belong to the Anglican and the Catholic denominations.

He urged the people to disregard the notion that the Uba brothers -himself, Ogochukwu, and Chris – were working at cross-purpose.

He stated that they were on the same page about his ambition to govern the state and make it a pride for the residents.

News

APC Debunks Viral Video, Says Presidency Not After Ganduje

Published

1 day ago

April 19, 2024

Editor

The ruling All Progressives Congress has distanced itself from the report credited to its Kano State chapter of the party that the Presidency may have been behind the move to remove the National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, from office.

The National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Felix Morka, made the rebuttal when he was featured as a guest on Arise TV on Thursday.

The Kano APC through its spokesperson, Ahmad Aruwa, had on Wednesday accused the Presidency of undermining and conspiring against the APC national chairman.

Aruwa made the claims in a viral video circulating on social media where he blamed some forces in the presidency for Ganduje’s travail.

The Kano APC also criticised President Bola Tinubu for not publicly speaking up for the embattled party national chairman, saying Ganduje personally facilitated his presence in Kano even when some grassroots politicians rejected him.

Reacting, Morka said much as he couldn’t tell the context in which Aruwa made the claim, it was a true reflection of things.

He said, “First, I am just hearing about this. I didn’t monitor that information. I wouldn’t say much about it. I don’t know the context or circumstances in which he made those comments. But the national chairman of APC is still the national chairman and we have the leader of the party who is the president, who to the best of my knowledge recognises Ganduje as our national chairman. So nothing has shifted.

READ ASLSO: [JUST IN] Ganduje: Kano APC Sacks Ward Leaders

Politics

PDP Crisis: Drama As Dino Melaye, Ortom Exchange Words During Meeting [VIDEO]

Published

2 days ago

April 18, 2024

Editor

Former Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in Kogi State, Dino Melaye, was involved in a hot exchange with ex-governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom.

Melaye accused Ortom of anti-party activities during the 2023 presidential election.

Speaking at a North Central zonal leadership meeting of PDP in Abuja on Wednesday, Melaye said Ortom’s anti-party activities led to PDP losing both the presidential and governorship elections in Benue.

He expressed surprise that the former governor could attend a PDP meeting despite his previous disloyalty to the party.

This led to a hot exchange between both PDP chieftains.

During the 2023 election, Ortom had teamed up with the G-5 governors led by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, to work against PDP’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

While other members of the group worked for President Bola Tinubu’s victory, Ortom backed the Labour Party, LP, presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

Video:

Dino Vs Ortom at PDP North Central Zone leadership meeting.
Melaye expressed surprise at Former Governor Ortom ease in attending a PDP meeting despite his previous disloyalty to the party. The two engaged in a heated exchange during the encounter. pic.twitter.com/Y8WTycJ88q
— Imran Muhammad (@Imranmuhdz) April 18, 2024

Politics

NNPP Faction Suspends Kano Governor For Six Months

Published

3 days ago

April 16, 2024

Editor

A faction of New Nigeria Peoples Party under the leadership of Major Agbo on Tuesday suspended the Governor of Kano State, Abba Yusuf, for six months over his failure to appear before a disciplinary committee to defend an alleged Infraction against the party’s constitution.

Yusuf’s suspension was announced by the National Secretary of the faction, Ogini Olaposi, at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday.

Addressing journalists at the party secretariat, Olaposi disclosed that the Board of Trustees took the decision to suspend the governor in the interest of the party.

The factional secretary said they have yet to come to terms with what the governor, a national figure who was elected on the platform of the NNPP, was doing at an ‘illegal national convention’ of the Kwankwasiya group led by Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso in Abuja on April 6.

He said, “We called this media conference to brief you on developments resulting from the recent invitation to Gov. Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano to appear before a disciplinary committee to explain infractions on the party constitution.

“Nigerians need to know the position of the New Nigeria People’s Party following the failure of the governor to appear before the Disciplinary Committee to explain the reason(s) His Excellency, who was elected on the party’s platform and a national figure of NNPP participated in an illegal/ factional national convention of NNPP held by the Kwankwasiya group at Wuse 2 in Abuja on Saturday, 6th April.

“The leadership of the NNPP to strengthen our internal disciplinary and democratic measures, most especially in the area of party supremacy without prejudice, is left with no other options than to decisively take necessary action according to the letters of NNPP Constitution 2022 as amended.

“With the approval of the Board of Trustees of New Nigeria Peoples Party and the unanimous decision of the National Working Committee of our great Party, His Excellency, Gov. Abba Yusuf of Kano State is hereby suspended for six months with immediate effect.

Reacting via a phone chat, the National Secretary of the Kwankwasiyya faction of NNPP, Dipo Olayoku, described the purported suspension as a joke taken too far by ‘a bunch of clowns’ who he claimed had long been expelled from the party.

“Gov Abba Yusuf was suspended in what capacity? These people are not members of the NNPP. They only want to make news. We don’t know them because they are not members of our party. After all, they have all been suspended, and there is a court order banning them from parading themselves as party members.

“So, how can non-members of NNPP suspend a governor? They are just clowns having fun because you can only suspend someone if you have a party. They don’t have a party and INEC has a record of members of the party. They are just out there making people laugh,” he stated.