IVM: I did not reject Innoson Vehicles —Ifeanyi Ubah

The Senator representing Anambra South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, (Dr.) Ifeanyi Ubah has debunked stories making rounds that he rejected Innoson (IVM) Vehicles bandied about by one Pastor Humphrey Eseobi.

Pastor Eseobi had published online:

“Outrage and unbelief greeted the unpatriotic and selfish role Ifeanyi Ubah played during a committee meeting of the Senate Committee mandated to discuss purchase of official vehicles for Senators.

“The Committee’s discussions were centered on vehicles for Senators.

“Many of the Senators in that meeting recommended buying of Innoson (IVM) Vehicles as their official vehicles.

“However, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah who represents Anambra South District in the Nigerian Senate where also the Managing Director of Innoson Motors came from was the wicked lone voice who finally succeeded in convincing the other Senators against recommending Innoson vehicles to the Senate.

“He bandied negative and wicked reasons majorly on unfounded insinuation that Innoson vehicles are not strong enough and fit for their social class as Senators.

“When a northern Senator who was part of the meeting who is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Land Transport Senator Abdulfatai Buhari reminded him of the need to patronise local made brands, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah flayed up and accused fellow Senators of masterminding a grand plan to assassinate him.

“He likened buying Innoson vehicles as a grand plan to kill him because according to him, Innoson vehicles are death traps.

“The former Governor of Anambra State who is currently the Minister for Labour, Dr. Chris Ngige frowned at such rascality from Ifeanyi Ubah.

“He advised the Senator to be a role model in the quest to patronise local industries that will save the country scare foreign exchange especially when such industry is his in district.

“In the same vein, Chief Romanus Okonkwo who hails from Nnewi could not understand the rationale behind Ifeanyi Ubah’s action.

“He is of the believe that Ifeanyi Ubah was sent to the Senate to first protect the interest of Anambra South district, Anambra State, South East and Nigeria as a country.

“He wondered why Ifeanyi Ubah could react negatively when Innoson vehicles is been discussed in the Senate.

“As negative reactions trails the unbelievable action of the Senator representing Anambra South District in the Senate, Nigerians are advised to continue to patronise made in Nigeria goods.”  [END]

Read also: COVID-19: Time For Buhari To Replace His Mercedes With Innoson

In reaction, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah refuted the story as fake, saying its the handiwork of his traducers.

The senator explained that he is the biggest patronizer of Innoson (IVM) Vehicles in the southeast

Senator Ubah debunked the story in a statement he made available to ElombahNews and also published online.

He stated:

My attention has been unavoidably drawn to a grossly misleading and fictitious narrative credited to certain faceless, pseudo media elements who in the figment of their imaginations claim that I rejected patronage of Innoson (IVM) Vehicles in a Senate committee meeting.

Ordinarily, a lot of people believe that there is no good reason to personally respond to such a laughable and poorly concocted lie.

But the truth is that allowing such a narrative to thrive unaddressed will be a big disservice to my supporters and the reading public.

In this regard, to put issues in clearer perspective for the benefit of all well intended Individuals that abhor deliberate distortion of facts, I would like to categorically state that;

1. Presently, I am the biggest private patronizer of Innoson vehicles in the South east today.

The very first car that I gave my only beloved daughter when she clocked 18 years is an Innoson (IVM) vehicle which she still drives till date; the car is still parked in my Lagos residence currently.

It is therefore ridiculous and laughable to insinuate that a man who bought his only daughter an Innoson vehicle would kick against procuring the same brand of vehicle for Senators.

2. In my political engagements, I have purchased over 30 trailers of Innoson plastic products worth over 400 million.

I have also given out Innoson Vehicles to organizations such as; National Union of Journalists (NUJ) Southeast, Sports Writers Association Nigeria (SWAN), Catholic Boys Organization Nnewi Diocese, Association of People Living with Sickle Cell Disorder (APLSCD), Nnewi Youths Forum and a host of friends and ardent supporters too numerous to mention.

3. In line with my ”think home” philosophy, I also purchased FC Ifeanyi Ubah’s official vehicles; 3 Coaster Buses, Trucks and SUV’s from Innoson.

In total, I have spent over N700 million in purchasing both vehicles and other products from Innoson from my personal pocket.

4. Let me say without mincing words that in the entire Southeast, I am the only individual with the largest units of Innoson vehicles in his fleet.

From the onset till date, I have maintained a very brotherly and cordial relationship with Chief (Dr.) Innocent Chukwuma; Chairman of Innoson Group whom I have always patronized and been at the forefront of promoting his brand.

Therefore, I advise those trying to fan the embers of discord between two brothers to desist from such as it is a failed ploy that is obviously dead on arrival.

5. Another glaring fact that further exposes the hollowness of this poorly scripted propaganda is the fact that the Nigerian Senate already gave out official cars to Senators since last year.

It is imperative to also note that I am not a member of the Senate Appropriation committee, neither am I a member of the Senate Services Committee;

Therefore, I have never been in any committee meeting to discuss the official cars to be procured and distributed to Senators.

Ordinarily, it is not in my character to bring my investments and patronage dealings with brands to the public domain.

But for the purpose of clarity I have decided to set the records straight with these barefaced facts and figures.

To this end, I wish to appeal to the general public to kindly disregard this misleading report and always endeavor to reach out to my media office to ascertain the authenticity of such stories in future instances.

I also wish to reaffirm my utmost commitment to promoting the Igbo economy and our “think home” philosophy.

Initially, when I read this spurious story yesterday morning, I called my mentor, Chief (Dr.) Cletus M.Ibeto (CON) and Chief (Dr.) Innocent Chukwuma, Chairman of Innoson Group who promised to officially refute this fallacious story.

I am fully aware that a lot of people are jittery about my rising political profile ahead of the 2021 Anambra Gubernatorial elections, hence the deployment of malicious pseudo writers to peddle falsehoods and twisted conjectures about me in a bid to deplete the love and goodwill my people have for me.

However, these malicious stories have turned out to become a stepping tool that consistently promotes my brand.

Conclusively, I wish to urge social media users to eschew narratives and lies that promote discord and public unrest as there is need to use our platforms to promote issue-based engagements that will move our dear state Anambra, Southeast and Nigeria at large forward. [END]

Senator Ubah also attached some 17 photos to buttress his claims some of which are as follows:

Considering that the former governor of Anambra State and current Minister for Labour, Dr. Chris Ngige was mentioned in the story, ElombahNews reached out to his media team to confirm same.

One of Dr. Ngige’s aides, however, stated categorically that the Minister never made any such statement anywhere.

Our correspondent also reached out to IVM Vehicles media crew who instantly debunked the story.

The respondent confirmed that in fact the Senator had purchased several IVM vehicles from the company in the past.

Speaking to ElombahNews during a telephone interview, Senator Ubah regretted that some misguided fellows must have churned out the fake news.

He noted that the fake news is evidently targetted at his political ambition ahead of Anambra 2021 governorship election.