Andy Uba: Obiano doesn’t engage people — he’s not seen his deputy in 18 months

Andy Uba, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Anambra election, has criticised Willie Obiano, Anambra governor, for his style of governance.

Obiano is backing Charles Soludo, candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), to succeed him as governor of the state.

Ahead of the November 6 governorship election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the final list of candidates — and electioneering is in full swing.

Speaking during a media parley in Lagos on Monday, Uba alleged that Obiano is detached from the “realities on ground” in Anambra.

He said the governor has not had a face-to-face interaction with Nkem Okeke, his deputy governor, in 18 months.

Okeke recently defected from APGA to the All Progressives Congress (APC). He was presented to President Muhammadu Buhari by Mai Mala Buni, Yobe state governor, at the presidential villa.

Commenting on the defection, Uba said: “Obiano has not seen his deputy governor for 18 months. They have not seen each other. What kind of leader is that?

“Obiano does not engage the people. You must engage the people that are agitating in your state. He cuts off people that are not with him, even if they are from his place.”

Uba said his party is engaging stakeholders to find a solution to the security situation in the state.

“Election must hold despite security issues. We are engaging different kinds of people in the state. Obiano has never tried to engage them,” he said.

The senator said Anambra’s development has been stunted because the incumbent governor does not belong to the ruling party, adding that the state “deserves to be in the centre”.

He said if elected governor, he will build an industrial park in the state and replicate the education system of Lagos in Anambra.

The governorship candidate said he understands the needs of the people, adding that he has helped many people in the state, including Soludo, the APGA candidate whom he claims he helped become Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor.