The Problem with Ubah – Obi's Aide

By Mazi Odera

The Senior Special Assistant to Gov. Peter Obi on Media and Publicity, Mr. Valentine Obienyem has attributed what he called the problem with Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah to learning wrong things from those he interacts with and for allowing his aides to speak unrestrainedly on issues that could be better handled. Obienyem said this in a release made available to journalist in Abuja yesterday in reaction to a statement credited to Chief Ifeanyi Ubah, questioning the rationale behind the recent presentation of cheques of 2.5 Billion Naira to all the secondary schools in the State for their rehabilitation and a jeep each to all the traditional rulers in the State.

Obienyem said that while Dr. Ubah had learnt to bring Gov. Obi into any nonsense he uttered or his aide uttered on his behalf, he had forgotten to learn from those mentoring him, that even among worst "enemies", there is time to condemn and time to commend.

Obienyem expressed surprise that Ubah condemned the distribution of cheques to schools and the vehicles to traditional rulers to enhance their functions, insisting that his action has proved rightly as people speculated, that he is insensitive to what makes for a good and prosperous state. "This tendency", Obienyem insisted, "questions his suitability as a leader in fact or in dream."

As to Ubah's position that Obi was forced to act because he himself gave money to traditional rulers that attended his Sister's wedding, Obienyem said he was not ready to amuse anybody by bringing traditional rulers into disrepute, for that, as he said "is the only thing sensible people will make out of Ubah's custic effusions."

Speaking further, he said the over 600 vehicles from INNOSON motor manufacturing Company, Nnewi for traditional Rulers, Schools and each town in the State was ordered and paid for over a year ago to promote made in Anambra goods and could not have been a carthathic reaction to any development. "In Nigeria today, many react to Obi's ideas because of the fertility of their conception. Much as the Governor is always willing to learn and even emulate noble acts, but not from people utterly incapable of though," Obienyem concluded.