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By Fred Chukwuelobe
If you are in the camp of Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State and you are not worried about the rising profile of Senator Ifeanyi Patrick Ubah who is most likely going to be his biggest challenger in next year’s gubernatorial election in the state, you may have to think again.
If you think the power of incumbency will count for you, it may, it may not. Incumbents are known to have lost elections even at the highest level. So, there is no rule that says it won’t happen to Soludo.
I had participated in one or two projects of the Nnewi-born senator, and I know the type of energy he exudes. If he puts his hands on a project, he gives it his all. He does not believe in aspiring for a project he can’t win. Also, he has age on his side. He is also a good manager of men and a mobiliser too. If you work for him, he gives you your due, and he listens. This is one of the greatest strengths of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which he put to good use. Ifeanyi Ubah possess these and more. So, his chances are very bright if he picks the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Now, before you accuse me of singing his praises, let me tell you why I say these. His outing in Nnewi last Saturday was huge. It was massive and will go a long way in clearing rough paths to Agu Awka. His strategy is analogous to that of the first black president in US history, Barack Hussein Obama. When the former US President was running for the presidency, many never thought he had a chance. Many in the black community didn’t believe he would win. They made fun of him and wondered ‘which white man would vote for a Blackman?’’ Obama kept strategizing, mobilizing, moving door-to-door, and talking to the youths. He employed the internet to maximum use. The youths have energy. They are the ones who will stand on the voting queue for hours. They are the ones who will stand their grounds and refuse to yield to intimidation and ballot box snatching. They are the ones who will resist intimidation. Ifeanyi Ubah is reaching out to them. He is talking to them using multi-dimensional media tools on why they should support him.
Last Saturday, he moved further by bringing the leadership of the APC to his constituency and at the Ifeanyi Ubah International Stadium, Nnewi. The occasion was “the 2024 Mega Empowerment Rally”, which he facilitated to herald his entry into the governorship race. And it was successful. It was colorful. It was huge. The event was preceded by a Colloquium, which he said was part of his “legislative activities that are aimed at promoting the intellectual, mental and physical wellbeing of my people.”
In his speech at the event, he emphasized “the importance of empowerment and self-reliance in our society.” He also highlighted the need for individuals to take charge of their own destinies and not rely solely on external factors for their success.” The senator stressed “the importance of education, entrepreneurship, and community development in achieving sustainable empowerment and urged the beneficiaries of the Programme to remain diligent and focused.” He struck the right chords, and his message resonated far and near.
The APC was led by its National Chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. In attendance was also Senator Hope Uzodimma, Governor of Imo State, who is also chairman of the South-East Governors Forum and Chairman of Progressive Governors Forum, among other local leaders of the party. Governor Uzodimma is arguably the strongest politician in the southeast as far as the APC is concerned. If Senator Ubah ‘corners’ him, that will be huge.
The highlights of the Programme included the distribution of various empowerment tools and equipment such as tricycles, motorcycles, shuttle buses, sewing machines, grinding machines, and bags of rice to members of his the Anambra South Senatorial District, which he represents in the 10th senate. When the campaign kicks off, he would replicate this across the state. It would trickle down the grassroots.
It is this empowerment angle of the programme that interests me. The items came at the most auspicious time and went to people at the grassroots. These are people who determine and decide the elections. Like the Igbo say, “okwa si n’onye otaa nkeya kotaa kalicha.” When loosely translated, the quelea bird says that the farmer whose crop it ate remains the most productive farmer.
Ifeanyi Ubah has adopted the Obama campaign strategy. He is moving door-to-door talking to the youths. These youths are not likely to listen to certain stories the senator’s opponents may tell of him. They want to move on. The voters may buy into his campaign intonation that the APC is their best bet to get to the centre of Nigerian politics.
Soludo has the incumbency advantage but could be upstaged if the APC releases its machinery for the senator. Soludo may stand his ground with his projects, especially roads and his own empowerment programme, that is, if he succeeds in taming his egocentrism.
I am awed by the senator’s resilience. He is like the lion, which is a member of the pantherinae family dominated by the five big cats. Of the five, the lion is the most dominant and is called the King of the Jungle. It hunts down every other animal, no matter the size. It does it with the pride of lions, and they plot their hunt as a group and take down preys as big as the elephant and as tall as the giraffe.
Although the senator is not going into the contest as a war monger, the illustration with the lion is to show how tough and strategic he is; how organized and resolute he is; how that could play well for him in the contest.
Ifeanyi Ubah is a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He is chairman of a strategic committee of the 10th senate – the downstream oil committee. He is no longer just a senator representing Anambra South. He has become a force.
My only worry is the unofficial zoning formula. Both he and Soludo are from Anambra South. If he wins and serves eight years, Anambra South would have served 12 years. If Soludo wins and serves eight years, Anambra Central will take its slot. I am from Anambra Central. You see my worry? But the senator says he wants to govern. If he wins, for one term and his presumptive deputy, Senator Uche Ekwunife, who is from Central, will step in. If, if, if.
Time will tell.
