Listing one of the few Nigerians favoured by providence, Ifeanyi Ubah comes to mind. The chairman of Capital Oil and Gas, would forever be grateful to his creator for making him reap bountifully from the seeds he sowed in tears over the years.
The Nnewi born billionaire businessman has previously taken a shot at clinching the top job as the governor of Anambra state in 2014, but lost to the incumbent governor, Willie Obiano. As if that was not enough, Ifeanyi defected from Labour Party to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in a bid to clinch the tickets for the second time and contest against Obiano, whose seeking a re-election. He was allegedly robbed at the party’s primaries, when former Anambra state Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr Oseloka Obaze was eventually declared winner. After much public agitation and grievance over the outcome of the primary election, the state PDP chairman suspended him for alleged gross misconduct and publicly calling the party’s primary election a sham.
The Ifeanyi Ubah Football club boss took the party’s verdict in good faith as he defected to the states ruling All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in a bid to work hand in hand with the incumbent Governor who is seeking a re-election. It was gathered that, he was promised the revered Anambra South senatorial ticket if he throws his wealth of influence behind Governor Willie Obiano on his re-election bid. Ubah as usual, gave his unflinching support financially and delievered for Governor Willie, who won the election a second time.
When it was the time for APGA to fulfil its alleged promise to Ifeanyi Ubah, some forces in the party, especially, Mrs Bianca Ojukwu stood against Ifeayi’s dream of clinching the ticket as they fought tooth and nail over the case. Ifeayi was again knocked out of the race as the primaries declared Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, the party’s flag bearer for the Anambra South Senatorial district election.
Take a stroll round the city of Nnewi, ask a toddler, who Ifeanyi Ubah is, and the response would be very impressive, as he is loved by many across his locality and beyond, having invested billions of Naira in their welfare. His philanthropic gestures and closeness to the grassroot, earned him the endless love and support of the grassroot. Without blinking an eye, The Authority Newspaper boss, moved to the Young Peoples Party (YPP),where he was eventually given the ticket to run as a senatorial candidate of Anambra South. Contesting election with top billionaires and powerful forces in the state like Chris and Andy Ubah and Nicholas Ukachukwu, Ifeanyi Ubah, a supposed underdog, pulled 87,081 votes to beat his stiff contenders hands down, after which he was declared winner of the senatorial election by INEC.
There is one dream Ifeanyi Ubah has been nurturing for a while, the dream to govern Anambra state. He would do everything within his capacity to bring that dream to reality. As the gubernatorial election is getting closer in 2021, CITYSPY gathered that, top politicians in the state are currently gathering human and financial resources together for the election.
The 2021 election will not be an easy ride for Ifeanyi. There are some hurdles for him to cross, so as to achieve his lofty dreams of governing the state with the highest number of individual billionaires. One of his hurdle is the party platform he will run from. Some are of the opinion that, his current party YPP, does not have the capacity and popularity to win a gubernatorial election in Anambra. As a relatively new party, the platform is not well recognized across the state to contest with PDP, APC and APGA. There are rumour emanating from some quarters that, before the build up to the elections, Ifeanyi might defect to the All Progressive Congress (APC) to run on the platform. The defection rumour is still not certain but we learnt he is currently under consultation with top political leaders in the state on his next move.
Breaking the jinx of the Ubah brothers is also a hurdle he might have to cross once again. Beating them at the senatorial election might not be easy to replicate at the gubernatorial level. Both brothers are a hard nut to crack owing to their political and financial pedigree in the state. Information making the rounds reveal that Chris and Andy Ubah are currently moving for a peace accord in a bid to team up and support one of them to contest and win the gubernatorial election. This is another hurdle Ifeanyi will have to scale through in his bid to successfully achieve his long term ambition.
His current fuel subsidy charges with the Economic and Finanical Crimes commission (EFCC) on his indebtedness of over N135Billion might also be a stumbling block in achieving his dreams. Justice Nicholas Oweibo, has adjourned the hearing of his case till Feb 13, 2020. The outcome of the case is yet unknown, but this indictment poses a big threat to his political ambition.
