With all things being equal, Anambra State, the gateway to the South East, will on November 2021, elect a new governor in the state, to replace the incumbent Governor, Chief Dr. Willie Obiano, who will be an existing office on 17th March 2022.
While it may be said it is too early, likely contenders, pretenders and major political parties stakeholders are on their feet crisscrossing the length and breadth of the state, aligning, re-aligning and oiling their political machines in readiness for the election.
One key issue that has dominated discussions as the election draws closer is the issue of zoning. There is serious agitation that the governorship election should be for people of Anambra South to contest, to respect the existing zoning arrangement in the state.
Anambra South has three political blocs which include Nnewi North, Nnewi South and Ekwusigo (Federation of old Nnewi division), Aguata, Orumba North and Orumba South (Old Aguata Union) and Ihiala (Ihiala bloc)
Among the three political blocs in the zone, the Federation of old Nnewi division is seriously agitating that since the other blocs have produced governors in the past, the bloc should be given an opportunity.
This piece seeks to critically analyze the chances of likely gubernatorial aspirants from Nnewi, town. IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER, THEIR NAMES BELOW
1.Senator Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah
Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah is the current Senator representing Anambra South in the Nigeria Senate. Beyond politics, he is a businessman and entrepreneur. He is the founder and CEO of Capital Oil and Gas Limited, Authority Newspaper, Authority Radio and Football Club of Ifeanyi Ubah (FCIU).In 2013, Ifeanyi Ubah contested and lost the Anambra gubernatorial election under the platform of the Labour Party.
In 2015, Ifeanyi Ubah was alleged to have single-handedly injected over 10billion Naira through his Non-governmental Organization, the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) to campaign and hold rallies for PDP in all the 774 local governments of Federal Republic of Nigeria, he was also appointed as the Director of Contact and Mobilization Goodluck Jonathan Presidential campaign team.
In 2017, Ifeanyi Ubah contested and lost the Anambra People’s Democratic Party Gubernatorial primaries to Oseloka Obaze. He later joined the All Progressive Grand Party (APGA) and championed AfaIgboEfuna (a socio-political movement), which contributed to the victory of APGA in 2017.
In 2018, after he was disqualified from contesting Anambra South Senatorial APGA primaries, he picked the ticket of a relatively unknown Young Progressive Party (YPP), against all expectations, he won the election after he polled a total of 87,081 votes to defeat his closest rival, Chris Uba of the PDP who amassed 52,462 votes, Nicholas Ukachukwu of APGA who had 51,269 votes, Andy Uba, the incumbent senator who recorded 13,245 votes.
He is from Umuanuka, Otolo Nnewi.
Strength:
Popularity: Ifeanyi Ubah’s major strength lies in his popularity, this is what he earned through his many years of philanthropy. His popularity is also evident in the fact that he won and became a Senator with a relatively unknown party after he campaigned for just three months.
Media: Ifeanyi Ubah is one of the Anambra politicians that has a strong media presence. He has a strong control of social media with over forty (40) media assistants. According to statistics, he is the most followed south-east politician on Facebook. Also in his kitty is the Authority 91.9FM and Authority Newspaper.
Party: He is favoured to emerge as the Governorship Candidate of the Young Progressive Party (YPP)
Political Structure: With Afaigboefuna Movement, Ifeanyi Ubah Solidarity Movement (IUSM), and Active Voters Solidarity (AVS), Ifeanyi Ubah has a strong political structure.
Weakness:
Qualification/Education: Ifeanyi Ubah is faced with the serious allegation that he falsified his school certificate (NECO), the matter is currently in court. For many Anambrians, he is not intellectually sound enough to become the Governor of Anambra State.
Debt Crisis: Ifeanyi Ubah is in a serious debt crisis, a few months ago, the Federal Government filed criminal charges against him and his company, Capital Oil and Gas Industries Limited over-indebtedness of N135bn to the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria. Also, Ifeanyi Ubah is allegedly owing most of his staff in Capital Oil and Gas. He also has many court cases over debt to many individuals, including his Nnewi brother, Chief Gabriel Chukwuma. Many believe that following his debt record, most Anambrians especially the civil servants will not be at home with his governorship ambition.Party: Ifeanyi Ubah may have won the senatorial election with YPP, the truth remains that the YPP factor is not among the three (3) major reasons why he won the election. YPP is not formidable in Anambra State.
Uncompleted Projects: Senator Ubah has many uncompleted projects especially the Nnewi Catholic Cathedral and the Ifeanyi Ubah International Sports Complex, this will likely be used against him during the election.
2. Hon. Engr. Chris Emeka Azubogu
Popularly called Mr. Project, Hon. Chris Azubogu is the current lawmaker representing Nnewi North, Nnewi South and Ekwusigo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
Chris Azubogu is a graduate of Engineering, University of Nigeria Nsukka.
Between 1988 and 1990, Hon. Chris worked at Adarice Production. He was at Nigerian Oil Mills Kano from 1990 to 1991. He worked as a contractor with SPDC beginning from 1998. He has also consulted for different state governments such as Rivers, Anambra and Enugu.
Hon. Chris Azubogu was first elected to represent Nnewi North, Nnewi South, and Ekwusigo Federal Constituency under the platform of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in 2011.
In 2015, Hon. Chris Emeka Azubuogu was reelected to the green chambers under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party. He was appointed as the Deputy Chairman and later emerged as the acting Chairman of the Appropriation Committee.
It believed that his position enabled him to attract different projects to his constituency which earned him the name “Mr. Project” It has been said that he has constructed more roads in his constituency than the state government has done. He also attracted and distributed hundreds of street lights and transformers, he started and completed many classroom blocks, distributed science laboratory equipment, engaged the youths in different empowerment programs and sponsored different health outreach. Through his efforts, Nnewi housing estate and stadium are currently ongoing.
His third reelection bid was nearly a walkover despite the rotation agitations.
Hon. Chris is from Umudim, Nnewi.
Strength
Performance: Hon. Chris has been able to rally human and material resources to achieve predetermine developmental objectives in his constituency. He has many projects to his credit.
Party: Hon. Chris Azubogu is favoured to clinch the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ticket. The party is in control of the majority of National Assembly seats in the state.
Competence: Following his stellar performance in the House of Representatives and his sound understanding of the infrastructural needs of Anambra, Hon. Azubogu remains grounded.
Weakness
Denomination Politics: Unfortunately, Hon. Chris Azubogu may become a victim of denominational politics being played in Anambra State. Hon. Chris is an Anglican.
3. Chief George Muoghalu
Chief George Muoghalu is the current Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA)
Muoghalu has served in various private sector establishments in the course of his career before he ventured into politics. He started with Crystal Functions Limited. He is currently the Executive Chairman of Gen-Moh Investments Limited and Chairman/Managing Director of Acqua Dera Technologies.
Since his entrance to politics, he has held many political positions, including National Vice Chairman, South-East of All Progressive Congress (APC), first APC National Auditor, Member National Caucus and others.
He was the 2003 gubernatorial candidate of All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) in Anambra State.
Chief George Muoghalu is from Uruagu Nnewi.
Strength
Party: Chief George Muoghalu is favoured to emerge as the candidate of All Progressive Congress (APC)
Federal Might: Being a major stakeholder in APC, and close ally to President Buhari, he may bank on federal government support.
Weakness
Popularity Question: Outside his party, APC, Chief George Muoghalu is not popular even in his own town Nnewi.
Party: The chances of APC winning the next governorship election in Anambra state is very slim despite coming second in the 2017 Governorship election in the state.
4. Chief Sir Ben. Etiaba Jnr
Ben. Etiaba is the son of the former governor of Anambra state, Dame Virginia Etiaba.
Chief Ben. Etiaba is the Principal Partner at Ben Etiaba & Co, Chartered Accountants and Management Consultants, with offices in Enugu, Abuja, Lagos, and London. He was the former Chairman of the London Group and a former Chairman of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria [ICAN], United Kingdom District.
Ben who is a member of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, currently holds the following Board position; Chairman, Havila Suites Ltd; Chairman, Gallery Publisher Ltd; Chairman, Aquila Board Audit Committee; Director, Aquila Leasing Ltd; and Director, Aquila Capital Ltd. He is the former Chairman, Enugu Sports Club.
He is from Umudim, Nnewi.
Strength
Competence: Ben. Etiaba is eminently qualified to the governor, Anambra State based on his curriculum vitae.
Weakness:
Party: He is yet to identify with any political party.
Finance: He may not have the necessary financial resources to foot the governorship campaign bill of a state like Anambra State
5. Dozie Ikedife Jr.
Dozie Ikedife Jr. is the son of the prominent Igbo leader, Late Chief Dozie Ikedife.
Dozie Ikedife Jr. was the 2017 Deputy Gubernatorial Candidate of the All Progressive Party (APC) in Anambra State.
Though nothing much is known about Dozie Ikedife Jr., he is an accountant, businessman, and developer.
The concluding part of this series will be made available next week.
Weakness
Popularity Question: Despite being the Deputy Gubernatorial Candidate of the APC, in 2017, he is relatively unknown.
Party: He is not seen or considered as a frontline aspirant in his party.
Finance: Anambra Governorship is always capital intensive, Mr. Dozie does not fit in.
Media: No social media presence.
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