IGWEBUIKE PONZI SCHEME: Andy Uba’s Governorship ambition was the personal project of National Chairman, Mai Buni, AGF Malami and Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State.

The Presidency was never involved like Senator Uba always claimed.

Senator Hope Uzodimma was brought into the project with the expectation that he can re-enact the Imo magic that made him Governor after coming a distant 4th in the election.

Infact millions of US dollars were alleged to have changed hands between the Governor’s aides who actually approached Senator Andy Uba with the promise that they can convince Uzodinma to support him.

Hope was clearly convinced by his “powerful aides” whom he can never say “No” to.

On the part of Buni, he stuck out his neck for Senator Uba as a payback for a “favour” done him by Andy Uba in 2017 when he ran for Governor and lost to Dr Tony Nwoye at the APC primary. Buni was the then National Secretary of the APC.

Andy Uba had gone back to Buni asking for a refund of the favour an action which a former Senate President who connected him to Buni frowned at. The man told Andy Uba not to ask for a refund of the favour as Buni might be useful in future.

Fast forward to 2021, Andy decided to run again and providence made it that Buni was now the National Caretaker Chairman of the APC.

In summary, Buni reciprocated. Dapo Abiodun was sent to do the hatchet job.A result was prepared in Imo State Governor’s lodge by the “powerful aides” and ferried into Awka by midnight.

Dapo Abiodun announced results from room 251 of Golden Tulip Hotel Agulu on facebook live even when no primary was conducted.

Party leaders cried foul, including Dr Chris Ngige. Other aspirants protested but it all fell on deaf ears.

The primary appeal committee was set up. They met all aspirants, went through the INEC reports and concluded that no primary took place in Anambra on June 26th.

They recommended that since the time allowed for primaries has elapsed, the party should opt for consensus. Their report was submitted to the leadership through the National Secretary who used to be Andy Uba’s doorman when he was powerful.

Pages 14 and 15 of the report went missing.

At this point, the President refused to see Senator Uba haven gone through Security and INEC reports that confirmed no primary took place.

The President’s hands were tied because he could not unilaterally take decisions on a matter considered to be the party’s internal affair.

Further meetings were held. The President directed for the matter to be resolved. APC Governors intervened, they all agreed on consensus. The President was out of the country so they needed final clearance from him. The President also needed legal counsel from the AGF.

The AGF who incidentally was the leader of the Andy Uba project, gave “wise counsel” that the ticket be left untouched.

The President returned and the Vice President kicked. The President refused to see Senator Uba still.

At this point Andy Uba became desperate. He needed to convince his financiers and supporters that the President was actually supporting him.

All he needed now was a photo-op

“Special arrangements” were made for the President to “bump into” Senator Uba at his son’s wedding in Kano. Andy Uba was kept in a parlour at the Kano State Governor’s lodge where the “bumping in” would take place.

Counter instructions were given for the President and Senator Uba never to be in close proximity. Another mission aborted.

It has always been the APC tradition that once a National Campaign Council is inaugurated, the Chairman of the Council, takes the candidate to meet the President on actions they plan to take.

Governor Hope Uzodimma moved in. He is among the very few Governors that has unrestricted access to the President. The thinking was that once he is made the Chairman of the Campaign Council, he will easily make the President agree to see Senator Uba.

Hope was made the Chairman of the campaign council. President Buhari still refused to see Senator Uba.

Few weeks later, Governor Hope pulled more strings and the President reluctantly agreed to see Senator Andy Uba and hand him over the party’s flag.

Pictures were taken. Andy Uba finally had all he wanted.

With many hard copies of the pictures printed in a cyber cafe and the rest circulated through print and electronic media, Andy Uba had all he needed, so he went to work.

Wait for a more explosive part 2.