Utazi apologises to Senator Ubah over Innoson clash

Senator Chukwuka Utazi (PDP, Enugu North), has apologised to Senator Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah over perceived misunderstood submission of his comment at the floor of the Senate.

Senator Utazi penned another letter to Senator Ifeanyi Ubah where he regretted the fallout of his “misconstrued” outing on the floor of the plenary a few days ago.

The outing generated heated debate as a result of exploitation by the political opponents of Distinguished Senator Ubah.

Utazi described Ubah’s opponents as “political jobbers” and asked his Distinguished colleague to forgive the embarrassment caused him.

Senator Ifeanyi Ubah and Chukwuka Utazi had clashed over his position on Innoson Motors during Senate plenary.

The Senate took exception to issues surrounding the Managing Director/CEO of Innoson Vehicles, Chief Innocent Chukwuma.

The issue was brought to the Senate floor by Senator Utazi and countered by Senator Ifeanyi Ubah.

Trouble started when Utazi at the beginning of Senate plenary, came up with a point of order.

He drew the attention of senators to alleged disparaging comments made by some Nigerians against the Chief Chukwuma.

For some minutes, Ifeanyi Ubah engaged Utazi were in a shouting match over disparaging comments over Innoson Vehicles CEO.

However, before Utazi completed his submissions, some other senators from the South-East geo-political zone, countered him.

The South-East senators wondered why such a local issue should be brought to the floor of the Senate.

The Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, intervened to return the hallowed chambers of the Senate to normalcy for conducive legislative activities.

At a point, the rancour angered lawmakers forcing the President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, to intervene.

Senator Lawan directed Utazi to end his submission, describing it as controversial.

Lawan said: “Please Distinguished Senator Utazi, rest your case on this motion which has already stirred controversy because this chamber should not be reduced to this type of discussion.”

An angered Senator Ifeanyi Ubah shouted at the top of his voice, saying nobody from his constituency was against Innoson.

READ ALSO: IVM: I did not reject Innoson Vehicles —Ifeanyi Ubah

Senator Utazi apologise to Senator Ifeanyi Ubah

Following the heated exchange, Senator Utazi apologized to Senator Ifeanyi Ubah.

He said it is regrettable that submission on the floor of the Senate was misunderstood and hence, exploited by political jobbers and detractors of Senator Ubah.

He further eulogised Senator Ubah’s pan-Igbo agenda posturing.

He recalled the leadership role he played during the Air Peace saga then, provision of employments and additional revenue for the federal government through the deployment of his wealth of experience in the downstream petroleum sector etc.

Below is a copy of Senator Utazi’s letter of apology:

Most Distinguished Senator Ifeanyi Ubah,

Upon further misunderstanding of my earlier Press Release, I am further constrained to state that my Point of Order was NEVER directed against you, as I never mentioned your name in my submission on the floor of the Senate, but against the bad press on INNOSON VEHICLE MOTORS, IVM Brands.

It’s very unfortunate that the local Nigerian politics I mentioned in my submissions on the floor of the Senate is misinterpreted to mean Anambra politics. This is not true.

My submission on the floor of the Senate was consistent with my known history of defending all hardworking and entrepreneurial Nigerians, especially businessmen of South East Geopolitical Zone, contributing to the growth of the economy, Sen Ifeanyi Ubah inclusive.

In the same vein, Sen Ifeanyi Ubah, following the social media mention of his name took turn at the floor to clear his name and established that he is one of the major promoters of IVM products.

I want to say that I never intended to be drawn into Anambra politics or ever intended to put Sen Ifeanyi Ubah in bad light , as demarketing his brother’s IVM products.

It is regrettable that my submission on the floor of the Senate is misunderstood and is being exploited by political jobbers and detractors of Senator Ubah.

Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah is a great Igbo Patriot of note who has made the entire Igbo Race proud through his numerous operations in the Downstream Sector of the Petroleum Industry, where he has created employment for countless Nigerians, and continues to help grow our economy.

As the Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Upstream, Sen Ifeanyi Ubah has brought his wealth of experience, since his entry into the Senate, to bear on the deliberations both on the floor of the Senate or in Senate Committee.

As a trusted Igbo Leader who believes in the Igbo philosophy of ‘Onye aghana nwanne ya’, Sen Ubah sponsored a motion on AIR PEACE Airlines, which ALL of us in the Senate backed.

I have made this Press Release to further clarify any innocent submissions on the floor of the Senate, that It was directed at Sen Ifeanyi Ubah.

Wishing Senator Ifeanyi Ubah the best in his political career.

May God bless us all.

Senator Chukwuka Utazi
Enugu North Senatorial District

Meanwhile, Senator Ubah has called on the Senate to patronise Innoson Vehicles as well as other indigenous products.

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