The November 6 Anambra governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Emmanuel Andy Uba has denied his involvement in a political cartel that kidnapped Dr. Chris Ngige in 2003.
Uba was reacting to a statement by the former governor of Nigeria’s Central Bank and governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Prof. Chukwuma Soludo.
Both Soludo and Uba are battling to take over from Mr Willie Obiano who will be completing his second tenure of office.
Uba’s family controlled political cartel in Anambra in 2003 so much so that the current Minister of Labour, Employment and Productivity, Dr Chris Nwabueze Ngige was kidnapped as a sitting governor at that time for his alledged disloyalty to his godfathers.
Ngige was abducted and kept somewhere for 12 hours before his release.
While holding a debate on Arise Television preparatory for the governorship election, Prof. Soludo described Mr. Andy Uba as a kidnapper, recalled that he was involved in the kidnap a ‘sitting governor.’
But, Uba vehemently denied, saying:
“About what he said about kidnapping…or whatever he said, I wasn’t involved. I’m not a violent person. There was a White Paper that came out [during that period]… how would you think I had anything to do with it? What are you talking about?
“I walked with the President of this country. I know about security…I know about security. Now let me tell you, for you saying that I’m involved…, I’m not involved in anything that has to do with kidnapping or anything.
“I wasn’t even in the country when it happened. I was outside the country when it happened and the call came through to me at 2:25 am and the person said he wants to speak with the President.
“I took the call to the President and he asked me to call the IG of Police which I did and the whole thing was sorted out. That’s why the whole thing was stopped. So how would I have been involved? If I was involved how would I have made that phone call?”
