I read a piece titled “Political Party Executives Should Be More Concerned About Victory for Party Candidates Than Converting Them to Automated Teller Machines,” written by Sir Don Ubani, an acclaimed publisher of Equity Reporters, an online platform.
Reading through the piece, I became quite convinced that “a leopard cannot change its spots.” Before now, I had been of the opinion that as one gets older, one becomes more reasonable and circumspect, and tries to look at issues from a more mature and balanced perspective. Unfortunately, Sir Don Ubani’s recent publication has done little to reinforce that belief.
Churning out controversies for personal gains appears to have become his hallmark. Otherwise, how does one explain his veiled attempt to blackmail the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State and the aspirants of the party from Ukwa/Ngwa, particularly Chief Eric Opah, the governorship candidate? The only reasonable conclusion one may draw is that he is either on a paid mission to stoke crisis within the party or deliberately seeking to create confusion and, in the process, attract the patronage of those opposed to the success of the APC in Abia State.
As a well informed member of the party, I know as a fact that the allegations of executive imposition, the alleged coercion of our governorship candidate to spend ₦1.5 billion during the primaries, and the alleged ₦4.5 billion extortion of Ukwa/Ngwa aspirants exist only in Chief Don Ubani’s imagination. No such practice ever took place before, during, or after the congresses and primaries, and I challenge Don Ubani, if there is any integrity left in him, to provide the slightest evidence of such baseless and irresponsible allegations.
I make bold to state that the leader of the party never, at any time during the primaries, directly or indirectly took money from any aspirant. This is a man who has spent billions of naira over the last three years to build the party, conduct collegiate and united congresses, and organise top-notch primary elections, the first of its kind in Abia APC, which provided the unity the APC had never experienced before.
For Chief Don Ubani to attempt to discredit such efforts through baseless insinuations and negative narratives is not only unfair but an insult to the character and integrity of the party’s leadership. It is a position from which he desperately needs to repent before the consequences of such reckless allegations catch up with him.
It is obvious that Chief Don Ubani is not speaking for Chief Eric Opah or for any other aspirant from Ukwa/Ngwa. It therefore becomes necessary to interrogate the motive behind these devilish allegations.
Is it possible that Chief Don Ubani has joined the league of those who are envious of the successes recorded by the leader of Abia APC in every endeavour he undertakes? Or has he willingly allowed himself to be used by those who want to ensure that our leader and the governorship candidate do not work together to secure victory for the APC in Abia State?
Whatever Chief Don Ubani’s ulterior motive may be, he needs to be reminded that his rude, negative, and unfounded attacks against the leadership of Abia APC are of no consequence. They will neither divide the party nor derail its determination to win the forthcoming elections.
Abia APC is more poised than ever before to win elections in the state. Characters like Okwubunka should wean themselves of irresponsible allegations and reckless statements that are not supported by facts, evidence, or reason.
As an elder, one should be expected to exercise restraint, conduct some level of fact-finding, and speak from a position of knowledge before making serious allegations against individuals and organisations. Age should bring wisdom, maturity, and circumspection not reckless accusations and careless statements.
Chief Don Ubani should therefore do better. He should stop making baseless allegations capable of creating confusion, bad blood, and unnecessary divisions within the party. Unless, of course, he is deliberately engaged in a hatchet job designed to destabilise the APC in Abia State and ultimately earn the approval or patronage of those who do not wish the party well.
Characters like Don Ubani should be reminded that the APC in Abia State remains focused, united, and determined. No amount of manufactured controversy, irresponsible accusations, or careless commentary will distract the party from its objective of securing victory at all levels come 2027.
Timmy Johnson Chinedu writes from Umuahia
