” The Governor is the chief security officer while senator Ubah remains an elected servant and concerned indigene, complementing the state government’s efforts.” —Ebuka Onyekwelu
Just towards the end of last week, I observed with great dismay an unraveling politicization of the current war against bandits in parts of Anambra State. Upon assumption of office, Governor Soludo met a state that is heavily traumatized by rampaging gunmen who have made bold their trade and were audaciously plying all nocks and crannies of the state with little or no resistance. The governor then faced the situation head-on. First, he called for the gunmen to accept his proposed amnesty for them.
When that option failed, the governor escalated the steak option which was dutifully employed by security agencies to beat the rampaging gangs in various parts of the state to size, such that security has now significantly improved in Anambra State. Therefore, it is not in doubt at all that the governor has been making utmost good effort to restore security and order in Anambra State. Yet, more efforts are needed to completely close the chapter of insecurity in Anambra State and this is where the governor and indeed, the government and people of Anambra State require support and assistance from all willing and capable Anambra people and beyond.
For a few months now, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah has led the charge against gangs of criminals within Nnewi and environs, relying heavily on information and communication technology, which is complemented by foot soldiers made up of groups of youths and vigilante who are tired of being held hostage by strangers, in their own communities. So far, an appreciable level of confidence has been restored through this process, even as more work are still required.
Importantly, since Sen. Ubah’s intervention, he has made efforts to carry the state government along. The governor was on ground in Nnewi the day he flagged off this off. Ubah has also extended invention to state government officials during various other exercises relating to checkmating crime in Nnewi and environs, and these invitations have been honoured by serving executive members of the Anambra State Government. Therefore, it is clear that the state governor and Sen. Ubah have a good understanding of the challenge and are working well in dealing with the situation. Certainly, only someone who does not understand the gravity of the security challenge facing Anambra State would be seeing any political party or anything associated with politics, in any effort to get rid of these criminals. So, restoring peace and order in Anambra remains a joint task, and frankly it has remained a joint and collaborative effort among participating stakeholders; Soludo, Ubah, community leaders, security agencies and others, till sometime last week when some strange innuendos began to emerge, suggesting to keen observers that the unity of purpose in kicking the common enemy of the people and arresting the security situation in Anambra is at the verge of political suffocation. The emerging narratives were meant to look like Governor Soludo and Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah have suddenly got into a supremacy contest of sort, over security matters in Anambra State. It is unbelievable to say the least because, the governor remains the chief security officer of Anambra state, while senator Ubah remains a senator and a concerned indigene of Anambra who is complementing the state government’s efforts.
Ubah’s efforts are only supportive and complementary
To that extent, any insinuation borne of political machination of the peddlers of the tale connoting an imaginary contest between Sen. Ubah and Governor Soludo is comprehensively against public good and the interest of Anambra State. As a senator representing Anambra South, senator Ubah has suffered a personal loss when he was attacked by gunmen in Enugu-Ukwu, Njikoka local government area of Anambra State and he lost some of his aides and police officers. This near-death experience by Sen. Ubah, might be one of the energizers of his resolve to put in his quota into any effort to end insecurity at least in Nnewi and environs. Therefore, from every perspective conceivable, Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah’s efforts are only supportive and complementary to what the state government is doing. In other words, Governor Soludo’s commitment in ensuring security throughout Anambra State is what Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah is trying to assist the governor achieve. In truth, there is no end to the number of complimentary efforts needed by the state government to ensure that Anambra is returned to the path of enduring peace, so that insecurity is restrained to the dustbin of history.
For now, every concerned stakeholder must zero in on the target of extinguishing the common enemy of the people and the state. Once this is achieved, the environment will be conducive for a robust playing field during the next governorship election around two years time.
More so, Governor Chukwuma Soludo whose government has now stabilized, might decide to work with Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah in sealing his second tenure project and there are good grounds for such political alliance. After all, Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah is a serving two term senator and as of today, a major politically relevant individual, with proven credentials of swinging massive votes in favour of his camp. Consequently, in almost a decade, Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah has been a factor, and therefore an alliance with Governor Soludo might be big enough to create a new path in pursuit of the stake of Igbos in Nigeria’s politics. This is the direction that both the camp of Governor Soludo and Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah must jointly explore and not be carried away by some petty squabbles, even in the face of heavy need for synergy in combating remnants of these gangs of bandits disturbing the peace of Anambra State.
He is a Technical Assistant to Governor Willie Obiano’s Special Adviser on Legislative Matters, whoonce was a Special Adviser to a former Deputy Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly. Ebuka is a second class upper division graduate of Political Science from University of Calabar, Calabar Nigeria and holds a Masters Degree in Political Science with specialization in Government and Development Studies, from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka Nigeria
