Ifeanyi Ubah

Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah (3 September 1971 – 26 July 2024) was a Nigerian politician and businessman who served as the senator representing Anambra South senatorial district from 2019 until his death on 26 July 2024. He was the CEO of Capital Oil (CCO), which he founded in 2001.

Quotes

• I do not have any problem, I do not think I have issues with anyone; they are the ones after me. In 2015, I worked for PDP (Peoples Democratic Party); I rose to the rank of Deputy Director, Contact and Mobilisation of the Presidential Campaign. In 2017, when I wanted to have a shot at the governorship election, there was a bit of manipulation, which I believe made things difficult for me. That same year, 2017, I was lured into APGA (All Progressives Grand Alliance) with firm promises that I would be given a ticket to vie for the Anambra South Senatorial seat.
  • Interview response to the question 'How true are the claims that you are at war with some highly placed politicians in your state?'

• But two days to the primary election, I was totally disqualified from vying for the Senate position in APGA. So, I went in to create my own platform, YPP to prove my point and the fact of the love people have for me. Through the mercy of God, the people voted for me and I became the Senator of Anambra South Senatorial District. I believe in destiny and what God has in store for me.
  • Interview response to the question 'How true are the claims that you are at war with some highly placed politicians in your state?'

• So, in all that transpired, I do not see why anybody should accuse me of fighting those powerful politicians. My offence is that I insist on serving the people to reciprocate the love they have for me, and for God’s faithfulness in my life. At times when you try to push the limits, the limits push you in turn.
  • Interview response to the question 'How true are the claims that you are at war with some highly placed politicians in your state?'

• It is a normal thing for me; I have seen that each time people push me, God always works out His way and plans for my life. I contested the election, won clearly, and went through the hurdles of election petition, including the tribunal and superior courts for eight months.
  • Interview response to the question 'How true are the claims that you are at war with some highly placed politicians in your state?'

• After the Court of Appeal declared me winner, unknown to me, someone else just came in through another means, a side door, and started pushing the propaganda of academic qualification. I am unmindful of the propaganda, because it is all politics and when you do not fight back, people will assume a lot of things.
  • Interview response to the question 'How true are the claims that you are at war with some highly placed politicians in your state?'

• They managed their propaganda, but I remained calm and focused on articulating and executing my legislative agenda. Their vile propaganda met with my strong response. So, I am not at war with anybody. I am focused on my legislative agenda.
  • Interview response to the question 'How true are the claims that you are at war with some highly placed politicians in your state?'

• Well, such might have come into play; I am taking everybody to be one. I do not know those involved in the bi-partisan conspiracy, but I know that so many people are jittery and afraid of what my next move. One is that they know I have a party that will probably give me a ticket and majority of those aspiring to be governor today are not sure of having the ticket. So, for me, I am not in the same wagon with them or the same structure with them. Some of them are looking for primaries. If I am contesting, I am going to contest straight away on my party; it is a party that is known to the people.
  • Interview response to the question 'Do you think the perceived bi-partisan collaboration in the gang-up against your election was perhaps because of your gubernatorial ambition?'

• I will be glad to receive the offer; I will tell the person to come on board. On my part, everyday and every week, you see people coming, endorsing you and telling you this and that. But, I am facing my legislative duties for now. As I said, when we get to the bridge, we will cross it.
  • Interview response to the question 'Has anybody come up to ask you to allow him contest the 2021 governorship on YPP platform?'

• Taking the first part of your question, I will say it depends on the offer. If the APC Federal Government awards contracts for the construction of all roads in Anambra State and provide incentives for traders and industrialists in my area, I will take them serious.
  • Interview response to the question 'Will you consider joining APC as some politicians have started doing and what should youths, your fan base in sports and politics, expect from you?'

• So, for the youths, what I want them to expect from me is that I will continue to have my listening ears towards the masses and developing the youths. I strongly believe that we must make it and help develop our generation. I have given so much in terms of resources to get where I am, because I know that politics will help me to reshape our generational course. I am very hopeful that before the end of next year, we must have championed a course of this generational conquest and then see how we can help to advance the course of our state.
  • Interview response to the question 'Will you consider joining APC as some politicians have started doing and what should youths, your fan base in sports and politics, expect from you?'

• I am still struggling, my club is struggling, but God has blessed us. We are the only privately owned club that has sustained a 5-year season in Nigeria Premier League. I have not seen a private club that has sustained more than two seasons, but this is our 5th or 6th season and outside us, there is only one religious club, which is MFM (Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries). We are only two privately owned clubs in the national league. We are full privately owned and they are religiously owned.
  • Interview response to the question 'Have your legislative duties distracted you from football?'

• I believe we are matching the government’s own club, even though it has a lot of intrigues, you cannot be fighting with government owned establishment especially in the field of play, and they have more funds than us. God has been able to sustain us.
  • Interview response to the question 'Have your legislative duties distracted you from football?'

• There is nothing coming from the State Government, but I believe that it is going to be well one day. We have done a bit and thank God our stadium is fully CAF certified. We are looking forward to upgrading areas that we need to upgrade and start attracting international matches next year.
  • Interview response to the question 'Do you manage the stadium in collaboration with the State Government?'

• No, Nnewi is okay. I do not think we have such facility in Awka, so Nnewi was where we had such facility and sited the stadium there. It is okay for me, we are not complaining; there are lots of other things involved, not just the stadium. We have hotel that has gone close to 60 per cent, a 5-star hotel. We have a movie theatre, shopping mall, which will give commercial value eventually when the stadium kicks off.
  • Interview response to the question 'There were complaints that it was because you did not involve the state government that you could not consider Awka, the State Capital for the stadium?'

• I was part of those that brought him and he has always been coming. The most important thing is that he is a man that loves African football and he has been very supportive of the one-family-one-footballer-initiative. He is also bringing suggestions on how we can drive African football; instead of two years’ gap of Nations Cup, let it be four years. Also, I am a member of CAF; we are working hard to see that we continue to fight towards developing football in Africa.
  • Interview response to the question 'What concerns did the FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, raise when he visited Nigeria?'

• How far have the youth development benefitted from the football talent hunt and do you plan to establish a football academy. If you go to Anambra State and so many states in Nigeria, we have people and youths that are getting into football and they are doing very well. It is about talent hunt, individual development and thank God, it is going well. We have an Academy, but it is not yet fully functional; it is embedded in our stadium project.
  • Interview response to the question 'What concerns did the FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, raise when he visited Nigeria?'