A video has surfaced showing Chris Uba, a prominent Peoples Democratic Party figure from Anambra State, physically assaulting an artisan who “completed a job at his London residence but was not paid”.
Although the details of the job and agreement are unclear, the 36-second video obtained by SaharaReporters on Monday evening shows a man, a foreign national, requesting payment for the work done.
In response, Uba, formerly a political heavyweight in Anambra State, is seen ordering the workers to “Leave my house, I am not owing you. I said leave my house.””
The video, obtained by SaharaReporters, shows a man, apparently a foreigner, asking Uba for payment. Uba, a former political influencer in Anambra State, is seen telling the workers to leave his house, denying any debt.”
A foreigner is heard saying, “Look at me, why are hitting him? Why are you hitting him?”
Uba replied the man, saying “shut up. Get out, your are a fool. You are another criminal.”
Meanwhile, the voice continued saying Uba “doesn’t want to pay”.
“We have done work for him, the whole house – Suleiman – he is trying to beat him. He is a hard man. Are you a hard man here? Are you a tough man? Tough man, the police is going to see that if you don’t want to pay money.”
Uba then replied saying, “You are too small.”
Then Uba charged at the man videoing the incident and appeared to have assaulted him.
A wealthy member of the powerful Uba political family, Chris Uba is an iconic example of the godfather phenomenon in Nigeria.
Uba was at the apex of his power during the 2003 elections, when he “sponsored” PDP candidates and rigged their election into office across Anambra. After that election, he publicly declared himself “the greatest godfather in Nigeria,” noting that “this is the first time an individual single-handedly put in position every politician in the state.”
Among the politicians Chris Uba “sponsored” in 2003 was PDP governorship candidate Chris Ngige. The terms of their relationship were spelled out in remarkably explicit fashion in a written “contract” and “declaration of loyalty” that Ngige signed prior to the election.
Uba provided Human Rights Watch with a copy of this document to bolster his contention that Ngige later failed to live up to the terms of their agreement.
Ngige promised in writing to “exercise and manifest absolute loyalty to the person of Chief Chris Uba as my mentor, benefactor and sponsor” and agreed to allow Uba control over all important government appointments and the awarding of all government contracts.
The contract referred to Governor Ngige as the “Administrator” and to the unelected Uba as “Leader/Financier.”
It also empowered Uba to “avenge himself in the way and manner adjudged by him as fitting and adequate” in case of any breach by Ngige that could not be settled through mediation.
During the 2022 Okwudili Ezenwankwo Foundation empowerment program held on December 28, 2022, in Nanka, Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Uba made a boastful claim that he had influenced the rise of governors and senators, and also proudly declared that he owned three oil wells.
He said, “I’ve made so many highly placed politicians in Anambra State and beyond since 1999. I’ve made governors, senators and other politicians at different levels.
“I produced Chinwoke Mbadinuju and Chris Ngige as governors. I had a hand in making Peter Obi, Willie Obiano and Charles Soludo as governors of Anambra State. I also made uncountable number of senators, House of Representatives members, and state assembly members. “In all these efforts, I was rewarded with ingratitude.None of them showed me gratitude. This is why I decided to pick a ticket myself to go to the Senate to represent Anambra South.”
“I am not going there to acquire wealth. I have 3 oil wells. I have chains of businesses,” he further claimed.
