- Ifeanyi Ubah has waded into the controversy surrounding the shift of Flavour’s father’s burial from Anambra to Enugu State.
- While extending an olive branch to the music star with an apology, Ubah didn’t shy away from criticizing Governor Soludo.
Ifeanyi Ubah, the fiery senator representing Anambra South, didn’t mince words as he squarely placed the blame on Chukwuma Soludo, the Governor of Anambra, for the controversial decision made by Nigerian musician Flavour to bury his father in Enugu instead of his ancestral home in Anambra.
With tongues wagging and eyebrows raised, the burial ceremony of Benjamin Onyemaechi Okoli, the father of the renowned singer, became a battleground of regional pride. Despite Flavour’s roots tracing back to Umunze in Orumba South LGA, Anambra, the choice to lay his father to rest in Enugu set off a wave of speculation and finger-pointing, with political undertones simmering beneath the surface.
Cubana Chief Priest, the flamboyant nightlife impresario, who graced the occasion, spilled the beans by revealing that the original plan was to hold the burial ceremony in Umunze, Anambra State. However, he disclosed that Flavour opted to shift the event to Enugu citing security concerns within Anambra.
In a statement conveyed through Kamen Ogbonna, his media advisor, on Monday, Ifeanyi Ubah expressed regret over the “poor security” situation and squarely placed the blame on Chukwuma Soludo for failing to address the issue in Umunze.
With pointed criticism, Ubah also accused Soludo of meddling, asserting that his interference has impeded efforts to tackle insecurity in the region.
Ubah extended an apology to Flavour, acknowledging the unfortunate circumstances that led to his decision to hold dad’s burial ceremony in Enugu.
“I apologise to Chinedu Okoli (Mr. Flavour) for missing this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to celebrate the life and time of his father in his hometown,” he said.
“I would have secured Orumba and the entire Anambra South senatorial district if the state government hadn’t stopped my security initiative, despite its success in the Nnewi Pilot program.
“The state government’s actions have left my constituents vulnerable to security threats, particularly in areas currently under siege by non-state actors, which would have been liberated by now. I will continue to advocate for the security and well-being of my people, despite the obstacles.
“In 2023, I launched the security initiative aimed to provide comprehensive security coverage for the Anambra South senatorial district.
“Following its success in Nnewi, plans were underway to expand the programme to Orumba North and South, Aguata, Ihiala, Nnewi South, and Ekwusigo. However, the state government’s interference halted the initiative’s progress, introducing politics into security matters and prioritizing the governor’s second-term bid over the welfare of the people.
“We used a combination of artificial intelligence, local intelligence, walkie-talkies, and 4G High Definition CCTV security networking systems to achieve this.
“The state government’s actions have left my constituents vulnerable to security threats, particularly in areas currently under siege by non-state actors, which would have been liberated by now. I will continue to advocate for the security and well-being of my people, despite the obstacles.”