Chris Uba’s thugs attack brother over Governorship

[Richard Akindele]

For the Ubas, it seems not even filial considerations would count as each member of the family pursues their various political agenda for 2007.

Chief Chris Uba, self-styled godfather of Anambra politics and his older brother and Senior Special Assis-tant to President Olusegun Obasanjo, Mr. Andy Uba, fell out in Awka over the 2007 governorship election.


While Mr. Nnamdi Uba (popularly known as Andy Uba) has his eyes on the governorship seat, the younger Uba has also shown a keen interest on who emerges the governor of the state.


The disagreement was said to have arisen after Chris Uba accused his older brother of keeping him on the fringe in the pusuit of his political ambition. Sources say a number of Anambra indigenes had told Andy that they would only support him at the polls if his younger brother steered clear.

He (Andy) was told that the goodwill he enjoys among the people would be lost if his brother becomes a part of the campaign. They reckoned that his image had been completely sullied in the state.


THISDAY checks revealed that Andy found this convincing and, as a result, went ahead to set up his own campaign team headed by two prominent indigenes, Chief Felix Oli and Chief Chike Udenze, without consulting his brother. Chief Udenze heads the so-called refo-rmed People's Democratic Party (PDP), Anambra State. A meeting of the group was held last Wednesday, in Awka, which was followed by another meeting at Mano Hotel, Awka, last Thursday.


While the Thursday meeting was in progress, thugs were said to have invaded the premises and attacked the members, allegedly inflicting injuries on Oli, the convener of the meeting. Sources say the thugs were members of National Association of Road Transport Operators (NARTO).


The younger Uba was said to have been irked by his elder brother’s refusal to seek his consent and support. He is believed to have masterminded the attack that dispersed the gathering.


THISDAY learnt that the thugs who came in four Mitsubishi L-300 buses, temporarily took over the hotel, and beaten up Oli. It was alleged that the thugs also seized his mobile phone and a bag that contained a huge sum.


Udenze was rushed to an undisclosed hospital in Awka but later moved to Enugu where he is currently being treated for fractures. Most of the women at the meeting were also claimed to have lost their money and phones. Piqued by the situation, the older Uba is said to have issued some threat.


Chief Chris Uba had engaged Dr. Chris Ngige, former governor of the state, in a very bitter and fierce struggle for power with the highest point of the drama being the abduction of the latter shortly after he was sworn-in over claims that he had signed his resignation.


Uba is acknowledged as the mastermind of Ngige's victory in the 2003 elections and had, to that extent, demanded for a greater share of state patronage. Ngige's refusal was viewed as a slight that had to be dealt with.


Source: Thisday