By Isidore Isotonu
Wanting to become the governor of Anambra State is a herculean responsibility. A state that basks as “The Light of the Nation” must perforce showcase its best as the governor of the state. It was quite astonishing therefore that one of the contestants for the November 8 governorship election in Anambra State made an embarrassing appearance while being interviewed on the Politics Tonight segment of TVC News, Lagos.
Prince Evangelist Nicholas Ukachukwu, the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was asked about his assessment of the rising cases of baby factories and illegal adoption rate in Anambra State.
Ukachukwu replied thusly: “Nobody has more number of factories in Anambra State than myself and my family. And on that note, I am telling you that I can remember in recent times once telling you that many industries rising up in Anambra dying. Insecurity has killed all of the factories. As a matter of fact, my factory is under lock because they kidnapped my six experts. I used to have about 77 of them working for me. The place is under lock and key.”
This is quite embarrasing. Is it that Ukachukwu did not hear the question put to him about baby factories? Or is he claiming that he owns baby factories? If he didn’t understand the question put to him, he should have asked the interviewer to make the needed clarifications.
Anambra State needs a man who is perceptive and able to recognize and differentiate crisis situations. No matter the excuses, Ukachukwu’s embarrassing display of crass ignorance on national television speaks to the heart of the matter. Ndi Anambra are wondering – is this man fit to govern?
Ukachukwu has by this TV no-show turned Anambra State into a butt of jokes, nationally and internationally. People across board are wondering if a sophisticated state like Anambra will end up electing a governor like Barkin Zuwo of Kano State in the Second Republic. Nigerians are yet to forget that Barkin Zuwo was asked about the mineral resources in his Kano State, and he named them as “Coca-cola, Fanta, Mirinda, Sprite, 7UP, and Danta Cola!”
It is too late in the day to ask Ukachukwu to drop out of the gubernatorial race. It suffices to advise him to send the more enlightened members of his campaign committee to represent him in these TV interviews. This way, he would stop exposing himself as a misfit for the governorship post of Anambra State.
Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo has had cause to stress that people who did not pass their exams in school should learn some handiwork instead of aspiring to be elected as a governor. Anambra State takes pride of place as the home of the Great Zik of Africa, Ikemba Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Dr Alex Ekwueme, Akwaeke Nwafor-Orizu, Dr Chuba Okadigbo, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Cardinals Arinze and Okpalaeke, and even the most influential novelist in the world today, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. These greats can never be governed by somebody who is challenged intellectually.
In the digital world of today, Ukachukwu’s goofs are on the global plane of the internet and social media dispatches. People are handily sharing the bloomer that the wannabe governor of Anambra State has unleashed. There can be no cover-ups anymore. There is no hiding place for Prince Ukachukwu.
Is it this way that Ukachukwu will engage in TV debates with other contestants. As the proverb goes, one cannot learn to use the left hand in old age. For Ukachukwu, the horses have left the stable. It is well-nigh impossible to convince astonished Ndi Anambra that he is suitable for the job he is applying for.
Ukachukwu’s “Baby Factory” disgrace is the final nail on the coffin of his governorship quest.
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*Engr Isotonu is an expert in industrial management policies with offices in Awka, Lagos and Abuja.
