Chief Chris Uba

'Godfather' of Anambra State

Place of Birth: Anambra

Commentary: In 2003, Uba’s political leverage was such that he could openly brag that he had rigged every election in the state, including that of Governor Chris Ngige. Ngige, he said, had agreed to hand him de facto control of the government, but reneged on the deal. Uba kidnapped him, forced him to ‘resign’ at gunpoint and attacked and destroyed part of Government House. Uba denied any direct involvement in the violence and claimed that all he did was implement the terms of his written contract with the Governor. It entitled him to ‘exact vengeance in such manner adjudged by him as fitting and adequate’, should the Governor fail to hand over control. Challenged in a September 2004 meeting that he ran the state as personal property, Uba replied, “I do not control Anambra State. I control the federal government”.  

Chris is brother to Andy Uba, a close ally of and former aide to Obasanjo and briefly Governor of Anambra State from from May-June 2007.