Politics of Envy: Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah’s Tale of Loss and Pitiable Hate, By Tobenna Obiano

“It’s only a reckless confidence in a source greater than ourselves that can empower us to forgive the injurious wound inflicted upon us by others” - Anonymous.

No one should suffer what Ubah has suffered in politics. No one deserves to be so unfairly and unjustly treated as Ubah has been treated in politics. No one deserves the untold neglect, unkind, undemocratic and unwarranted treatment that has been meted upon Ubah, even from and by those who have gained the most form
His large heartedness.

In the last five days, many of my readers and friends have continued to write me personal messages, and others calling in, asking what went wrong. They’ve been expecting to read me speak up for my friend and brother - Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah.

They were worried for it has turned out more like I had lost my voice and ink. Well, often time, writers might be passionate about a cause, but once they have any injurious outcome in what they pursue, they get easily broken down. This was exactly the plutonic scenario in which I found myself. Even whenever I think up of something to write, I get broken down on why the so unjust, unfair and unkind treatment could even come on Ubah in the first place.

In the wake of the disclosure foretold, that Ubah might be stopped from contesting for the primaries through disqualification by his political party, many persons almost immediately wished it away. And would you blame them? Ofcourse not!

Many believed that for the level of dedication, sincere input and unequalled role this young man played at the build-up to the 21/21 Miracle, that no one would push him aside in the scheme of things in Anambra State politics again, but no, we were wrong. The worse was in the offing.

In Anambra State politics, even within the Igbo nation and indeed in Nigeria, Ifeanyi Ubah is a household name. This young man has contributed immensely right from his immediate locality, the State, Nigeria and even beyond. From sinking boreholes, to connecting street lights, tarring roads to donating electricity transformers, building schools to building churches, building homes for the under privileged and many more.

Ifeanyi has immensely contributed to the growth, progress and betterment of young people in Nigeria. In what has become the very first of its kind, he has habitually flown young people on international football, business and scholarly expository excursions - from Egypt to South Africa, Ghana to London, Russia to Dubai and very soon, another team would be leaving for China.

Ifeanyi Ubah’s entrant into politics brought high hopes for the people. It was more like the hope of the common man that a truly progressive mind and an unmatched philanthropist would surely do wonders and better true lives of the people. Ifeanyi has done so much for humanity, and this is speaking or writing with all honesty.

In the last Anambra State Gubernatorial elections, if there was any man who pushed the most, if there was anyone who sacrificed even in the eleventh hour, yet pushed with full force and charging that success be attained for the Willie Obiano reelection victory, - this one person is none other but, Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah!

Ubah was approached, begged to come in and bring forth his energetic push and use his unmatched outreach and capacity to help the Governor win the election. There were negotiations and agreements. He came all out and wonders began to happen. Like a fighter who he was, he brought in this liveliness that was lacking, Ubah had that drive, determination, dedication and kept aside any possible deterring distraction to be able to achieve this goal and it worked perfectly well.

Politicians must quit playing bad politics. They must stop bringing forth foolishness, ignorance, arrogance and stupidity into the polity and politics of our time. This is why many refer to politics as a dirty game. There’s no way you would collect money from serious-minded contenders to purchase forms for contesting an election, yet allow them to campaign vigorously only to disqualify them without any cogent, sane or serious reason. This is the most insane and stupid thing anyone can say or do.

APGA is only but a baby political party. This one is only growing. It’s not even a National party, it’s more like the Igbos thing, for even their anthem is composed in Igbo language. It also claims to be the only hope of the Igboman, whilst in truth, it’s the hope of a select privileged maybe also “selfish and self-centered” few.

What has played out in APGA in the last three weeks is nothing but an outshow of incompetence and maybe also foolishness of the highest order. It has turned wholly to money politics.

In Ifeanyi’s case, it wasn’t money per say, but a making of a possible clash of the titans and interests. There was the case of a seemingly tussle for power and control, and sadly too, there was envy, dislike and hate by some desperate few. Ubah would be what God wants him to be, nothing and no one would stop this.

APGA may still be lost in the euphoria that it shall still get to be well. They may be carried away in the thinking that in the end, tempers would be cooled and things would be settled amicably, well, they’re getting in for its worst times.

There were infact no primaries, and where it was held, there were series of complaints of disenfranchisements. A lot of the process were marred by irregularities. They’re numerous and so glaring. Ifeanyi Ubah even applied for waiver, yet he was disqualified without clarity and so many others as well. The manner and style with which the disqualification came showed the fear or worry for his nearly clear victory, had he contested in the primaries.

In Imo State, even those who joined the party barely two weeks to the primaries got cleared and even their tickets to contest. Ifeanyi Ararume who was amongst the last to join, has today been gifted the Governorship ticket. If care isn’t taken, with the outcome from the various primaries conducted, the party may be heading for the rocks and may soon go extinct.

Ifeanyi Ubah is a good man. Ifeanyi doesn’t deserve to be treated so unjustly. Ifeanyi is a great guy. Ifeanyi has suffered in politics, but then, those would form the bedrock of his story tomorrow of the torturous and crucible paths he has gone through to wherever and whatever height he finds himself.

As at this time, Ubah has been left at the middle of a crossroad by a political party he toiled with and for. Ubah had series of sleepless nights, visiting radio stations, featuring in television programs, been interviewed by newspapers and online media outfits all in quest for the Obiano victory. Ifeanyi had a powerful army on social media who stood and fought with him too.

The Ifeanyi Ubah Games village was reduced to a Mecca of sort and tourist center where many including actors and activists were coming to preach the “Afa Igbo efuna” goodnews in a quest to drive home a strong message that APGA should be voted. It complimented the “Nkea bu nke anyi” that was earlier initiated and so, it struck rightly and many followed suit.

It’s only sad to see Ifeanyi suffer this disrespect and unkind gesture, but like America’s Abraham Lincoln, Ubah only comes out stronger. However he does that is still surprising to many of us.

I’m aware that he distributed a total of 119 motorcycles freely to APGA ward secretaries in his constituency. He has also donated shuttle mini buses as well as SUV vehicles to some party chairmen from his constituency, this is even after the unfair treatment meted on him.

Ifeanyi was the August mentor for young Anambrarians. At that mentoring moment, he promised to impact positively on the lives of young Anambrarians, and he’s doing it already. Ten lucky winners were selected to head for China on business and expository training. Even against the unfair treatment, I reliably gathered that travel documents of the winners and select few are been processed. What manner of man is this?

As it stands now, as against the myopism of desperation or so, Ifeanyi Ubah as it’s been alleged might be moving to another political party to dare. It’s not about desperation, but about the quest to stop the mischievous, selfish and arrogant few who wouldn’t want true-progress for the people.

It’s possible that Dr. Ubah leaked the audio conversation where the Governor and some other political giants were at his home pleading that he helps them. The Governor was particularly beggarly at that point. The voice can’t be mistaken. If Ubah stays back in APGA that has failed him and many others woefully, there’s no assurance that the Governor and his foot soldiers would forgive him for leaking that very audio that went viral. The best therefore is to move on, afterall, Mmaduaburochukwu!

Political parties should only be a transporter or vehicle, used in driving a person to a destination. If you’re headed for Lagos on a GUO bus and it breaks-down at Benin, the only way to reach your destination is to enter another bus, maybe God Is Good. APGA has broken down on the way, and if Ubah wishes to join unto another hanger to reach his destination, this is doable. We should think more of the actual contender and person, not his political party.

If Ubah in a quest to achieving his dream finally decides to leave APGA for another political party, many would pridefully follow him because they believe in him.

It’s okay to ask of Dr. Ubah to show them maturity by forgiving them for they do not know what they’ve done. However, I enjoin him also not to forget. Forgiving doesn’t necessarily mean forgetting also. It’s one step at a time. Forgive, but don’t forget, only a fool does both at thesame time. Lessons should be learnt.

Therefore, even in my self-imposed exile off discussing this some sometime, with my long silence, I’m still strongly for Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah.

That young man means well, and we should keep supporting him.