MY OPEN LETTER TO CHIEF DAN ULASI.
Sir,

         By Barister Emmanuel  Anene

I came across the name Chief Dan Ulasi in my days as a student of the Prestigious University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus wherein one building was named after you. Incidentally, l wrote one of my electives examination in the said building about two decades ago.

Although, l didnt know much about you, l held you in high esteem as a philanthropist who had contributed immensely to the development and restoration of the dignity of man. It was later that l got to know that Chief Dan Ulasi served as the Anambra State Chairman of National Republican Convention in 90s and later the State Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party.

Each time l listened to you, l see a display of intelligentsia, intellectualism and boldness to speak truth to power. Indeed, among your peers, you remained one of our finest and ought to be  a warehouse of knowledge where politicians and younger generations should be tapping from.

If we have this timber and calibre of man in Chief Dan Ulasi, why l wonder you chose to be mounting the podium to  speak for your Presidential Atiku candidate, Atiku Abubakar marvels me. While it is your  inherent right to support any candidate of your choice based your personal convictions l dont think its proper as an elder to be speaking for a Presidential candidate with high propensity of attracting unnecessary disrespect and unbridled exchanges from the spokespersons of the opposition parties.

If truth must be told  non of  your peers in any part of Nigeria will accept or has accepted the role of speaking for a Presidential candidate. You made an informed choice to support your candidate, Peter Obi made a choice to run for President on the platform of Labour Party, why can’t you let Peter be.  Win or lose, Peter Obi has changed the political narratives in Nigeria, and that alone is phenomenal.

While speaking on AIT KAAKAKI Programme, you said you fought Biafran civil war and lost one of your arms to the unfortunate war. Although, l was not born during the internecine war, l read about Ahiara Declaration and the reasons for the war, which were lack of equity, fairness and inclusivity and broken promises. What has changed. NOTHING. If you fought the civil war in defence of the aforementioned principles and today turn around to support a Fulani man to succeed another Fulani man, then your reasons for the war need to be re-examined.

Apart from military era, the North had President Yaradua for two and half years, President Buhari is almost completing his eight -year- term and the only way Igbos will have a shot at Presidency is to support another northern candidate for another eight years. According to you, if Obi had consulted widely, this nonsense(obi’s presidential aspiration) wouldn’t have happened. What you didnt tell us is  how your candidate will re-road the North and by extension all part of Nigeria to buy into Igbo Presidency on the platter of gold in view of Governor Wike’s allegation of promises unkept.

In 1999, former Governor Ogbonnaya Onu who won the Presidential ticket of All Nigerian People’s Party (ANPP) which was controlling about nine states at the time was pressured to step down for Olu Falae of Alliance for Democracy which controlled about six states. They said it’s not lgbo’s time, they asked us to vote for Obasanjo and we did. Same support was given to Yaradua at the expense of Ojukwu, one of them said that the quest for lgbo Presidency was IDIOTIC. Two decades down the line, our lgbo leaders still see lgbos quest for Presidency as NONSENSE. They should be reminded that there is SENSE in every NONSENSE and NONSENSE in EVERY SENSE depending on your worldview.

Our igbo leaders including you pinned us in PDP thereby making it difficult for any other party to thrive in Southeast. Within the time, they claimed to be negotiating for us, Enugu-Makurdi, Enugu-Onitsha, Enugu-Portharcourt roads were left untouched. Let them give the report card of PDP in the Southeast to justify our continued support for the Party. They made us not to vote for Buhari but the man is at the verge of commissioning the 2nd Niger Bridge which will be a signature project in Eastern Nigeria.

Today Chief Dan Ulasi called out Kenneth Okonkwo aka Andy Nwaokeke, if Andy exercises his right of reply, they will say lgbos dont respect their elders. This is why l said that you have outgrown your current role of being a spokesperson for any Presidential candidate. At your age and level, you should be working behind the scene just like your peers in other parts of Nigeria. Am yet to understand why  each time you mount podium, its about Peter Obi this, Peter Obi that. You should please allow Peter Obi to prosecute his Presidential ambition the way he deems it fit. We like him like that.

While I pray God to bless Chief Dan Ulasi’s ripe age, l equally pray that you understands that times are changing and will continue to change.
Sir, please accept the reassurances and respect in which l hold your person and position in Southeast politics.