By Samson Ezea
On becoming Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, the much I heard and knew about Mr. Uche Nwakaibeya Nnaji in the political cycle was when he suddenly became a senatorial placeholder for Jim Nwobodo in 1999.
Immediately Nwobodo lost out in the 1999 PDP presidential primaries in Jos, he made a u-turn and picked the senatorial ticket of Enugu East Senatorial zone. This was after it was relinquished by Nnaji in controversial circumstances.
Since then, Nnaji disappeared from the political space both at the state and national level. That particular action said a lot about Nnaji and what he stood for.
Fast forward to 2023, Uche Nnaji became the governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress. After the election, which Barr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah of PDP won, Nnaji was among the governorship candidates of the various political parties that went to court to challenge Mbah's victory.
They all lost to Governor Mbah in court. Unlike his colleagues in other states that lost election, Nnaji was so lucky to be made Minister.
After becoming a Minister, rather than concentrating on his job, building bridges and mending fences in his party and state, especially with his kinsman and Governor Mbah, Nnaji's vaulting and inordinate ambition, lack of tact and sagacity, coupled with the usual sycophancy and hypocrisy of his supporters, praise singers and social media hirelings kept misleading him into seeing himself as a political demigod with federal might that can conquer all political forces in the state ahead of the 2027 governorship election. He commenced the game earlier than it should be and got exhausted and burnt before the real game kickstarted.
It is public knowledge that Nnaji has a political godfather and benefactor in one of the Southeast states, and the governor has been overprotective of him. May be it was because of this that he became overconfident, boisterous, belligerent, daring, and confrontational both in actions and speeches in his political exploits and moves.
He moved with carriage and spoke with finality. Across the state, his presence was felt as he continued to recruit people into his APC fold, giving them false hope and erroneous impression that his 2027 governorship ambition is already sealed and that the incumbent, Governor Mbah is on his way out.
At a point, it became more obvious that Nnaji lacked political sagacity to understand the arithmetic of politics by continously throwing stones at a glass house in which he lived as well and also failed to realize the enormous power and overwhelming influence of a sitting governor in a state, especially Governor Mbah's type that has carved a niche for himself in the area of good governance and had become a beautiful bride being sought for by various political parties, particularly All Progressives Congress ahead of 2027 general elections.
Nnaji failed to understand the political schemings, intrigues, and permutations ahead of 2027 general elections that were geared towards delivering President Tinubu for a second term with state governors as the major players and executors.
Before now, it was obvious that Nnaji was only seeing himself, his convoy, security, aides, and praise singers as being in charge, without seeing his rivals that were ahead of him in the game.
Nnaji failed to read the political barometer and the handwriting on the wall clearly ahead of his political waterloo. This is even when it became crystal clear that he was trailing behind his enemies in the political battle for the soul of APC in the state that finally consumed him. Nnaji completely forgot that in a political war, one doesn't leave any flank open for the enemies to cash in.
If not, why was Nnaji waging political war against his enemies, without remembering that lying before him was his questionable academic qualifications. Why engaging in misrepresentation when constitutionally degree certificate is not required for one to be made a Minister in Nigeria?
Was Nnaji deceived and handed over fake documents by some unscrupulous elements in the university without following due process? It is possible, especially when they saw that Nnaji appeared desperate for it without following due process. They helped him, and he probably settled them.
Yes, it is possible because from records, Nnaji was admitted into UNN, but he didn't graduate because he failed some courses and expected to re-sit them as carryover courses, which up till this moment there is no record that he sat and passed the re-sit. So if this is truly the case, there is no way Nnaji could have graduated and issued a certificate without him passing the carryover Virology course.
Nnaji's sudden political waterloo, after all his political gyrations, noises, and boastings, should serve as political lessons to politicians or aspiring politicians with questionable academic records and qualifications.
Claiming or presenting what you are not or you don't have to occupy or get a political position could always be counterproductive, embarrassing, and demeaning.
Before embarking on political war, always cover your back and flanks well and try to be ahead of your enemies because in such war, everything is fair and must be deployed to gain victory. It is a serious business that has no room for emotion and sympathy.
Nnaji is now a political history, and all his allies, supporters, and social media hirelings have been suddenly left in the lurch to lick their wounds. As it is, Nnaji may not escape prosecution.That is Nigerian politics.
