KINGSLEY UBANI
The popular latin saying “Nemo Dat Quod Non Habet”, which translates to, One Cannot Give What He Does Not Have, has remained true for centuries since it was first used in 1600. The latin maxim which has its roots in jurisprudential concepts of possession and ownership, has also been used to denote the fact that human action is a product of character possession.
Amongst the candidates contesting for the November 8 Anambra governorship election, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu’s name rings bell due to his decades of exposure in Anambra politics and beyond. However, the bell which ordinarily would have resounded the vision and passion of a man privileged to be one of the leading influential figures in Anambra since Nigeria advanced into the 4th republic in 1999, sounds empty due to Prince Ukachukwu’s failure to understand the burden the society places on its elites.
Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu became a notable political figure over two decades ago, and since then Anambra, South East and Nigeria at large have passed through challenging times. Times that could have ended the existence of these entities, and required prominent political figures like Ukachukwu to lend their voices to issues that could save and advance the cause of the society. However, the Nnewi South-born politician abdicated the responsibility nature placed on him. He unequivocally prioritised his personal interest above that of the state he now wishes to govern.
Stating Prince Ukachukwu’s sins will elongate the discourse beyond necessary. But one of the recent events that betrays Prince Ukachukwu’s absent mindedness to matters that concern Anambra was the burning of the Nnewi-South local government headquarters by gunmen in 2022. Not a word, statement, visit, donation by the acclaimed billionaire, Prince Ukachukwu, who has now become an emergency advocate of good governance. For the avoidance of doubt, Nnewi-South is the home LGA of Ukachukwu.
One does not need scientific binoculars to see that Anambra is a mere afterthought for the likes of Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, this perhaps was why he only joined the governorship race after the demise of late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, whom despite the fact that he attained political prominence years after Ukachukwu, exemplified his love for Anambra in so many ways. Senator Ubah’s death remains a colossal loss for Ndi Anambra, particularly Anambra youths.
My simple advice to Prince Ukachukwu is to forego his Governorship ambition and return back to his billionaire castle. However, if he chooses not to heed to my advice, I have personally dedicated myself to reminding him that he has no love for Anambra, and is unqualified to oversee the affairs of the state he has shown no interest in its progress, despite his privileged status.
When I first asked the question, WHAT DOES PRINCE NICHOLAS UKACHUKWU REPRESENT? It wasn’t because I lacked the answers to the question, I only wanted to awaken the consciousness of Ndi Anambra to the fact that Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu represents NOTHING, and it is a known reality that ANYTHING placed on NOTHING cannot STAND. Not even an immaculate choice of a running mate!
– Kingsley Ubani is a 33-year old Anambrarian, who hails from Enugwu-Ukwu in Njikoka LGA.