Capital
Oil boss, Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah means different things to different
people. This 44 yr old billionaire businessman who sits atop Capital Oil
& Gas got into the consciousness of many Nigerians about 4 yrs ago
when he celebrated his 40th birthday and the controversies that followed
his business dealings with Coscharis boss, Cosmas Maduka. Today, Ubah
is as popular as the Cocacola brand. This is because the Nnewi,
Anambra-born businessman has taken his game to the next level. 2 years
ago, Ubah joined politics and in no time, quickly made known his
intentions to contest the Anambra governorship seat. He contested on the
platform of Labour Party but lost in questionable circumstances to the
APGA candidate, Willy Obiano, the anointed candidate of Gov. Peter Obi,
who left after 8 years in office.
After that, Ubah joined the PDP. He currently leads a powerful socio non-governmental organisation under the aegis of Transformation Agenda of Nigeria (TAN). During the last presidential election, TAN provided support for ex-President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan while holding series of rally to drum up support for his 2nd term. The result of that election would later go the other way as the APC candidate and Jonathan’s main challenger, Mohammadu Buhari won. Ubah says he never regretted throwing his support and members of his TAN behind the Bayelsa-born politician who ruled Nigeria for 6 years. Fondly called Ebube Chukwu Uzo (placing God first), Ubah owes everything he is today to God. This is because of the manner he manages to triumph over his many travails in his business.
To that end, Ubah is currently building a 3,000 seater Catholic Cathedral for the Nnewi Diocese of the Catholic Church. In this interview with Managing Editor, BAMIDELE OGUNDANA at his sprawling Maitama Mansion in Abuja, Ubah revealed his other side many don’t know, his relationship with ex-President Jonathan, why he supported Lagos PDP guber candidate, Jimi Agbaje, his headship of TAN and the solution to the incessant fuel scarcity in Nigeria.
During the recent fuel crisis, you waded in ending it and asked the Tanker drivers to end their strike. You even went a bit further in selling fuel which many of your colleagues said was scarce. Why did you single yourself out?
The masses were suffering and we needed to alleviate their plight. It was almost getting out of hand. The truth is that we don’t even know who instigated the strike.
Was it a sabotage?
It looked more like it. In a Press Release by Capital Oil shortly after the fuel scarcity, I told Nigerians that we cannot be part of the sabotage, to me, its a scam.
What was the reaction of some of your other colleagues who may have been surprised by your action?
Everybody is on his own. I am under obligation to service people that are storing product with me. I have a facility that stores Oil Products above Nigeria’s need. Some of the action would have had people suing us and we didn’t want that. Above all, I did that because of the suffering of Nigerians.
Why do you have so many of your colleagues against you, there is so much jealousy?
Such is life…you know that everybody cannot like you but at the same time, I strongly believe that as so many people like me, some will not also like me, Igbo people say Aku bu ilo (when God helps and you are very successful, so many people will be antagonising you and at the same time so many people will appreciate you. Its normal, even Jesus Christ was not loved by all.
After that, Ubah joined the PDP. He currently leads a powerful socio non-governmental organisation under the aegis of Transformation Agenda of Nigeria (TAN). During the last presidential election, TAN provided support for ex-President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan while holding series of rally to drum up support for his 2nd term. The result of that election would later go the other way as the APC candidate and Jonathan’s main challenger, Mohammadu Buhari won. Ubah says he never regretted throwing his support and members of his TAN behind the Bayelsa-born politician who ruled Nigeria for 6 years. Fondly called Ebube Chukwu Uzo (placing God first), Ubah owes everything he is today to God. This is because of the manner he manages to triumph over his many travails in his business.
To that end, Ubah is currently building a 3,000 seater Catholic Cathedral for the Nnewi Diocese of the Catholic Church. In this interview with Managing Editor, BAMIDELE OGUNDANA at his sprawling Maitama Mansion in Abuja, Ubah revealed his other side many don’t know, his relationship with ex-President Jonathan, why he supported Lagos PDP guber candidate, Jimi Agbaje, his headship of TAN and the solution to the incessant fuel scarcity in Nigeria.
During the recent fuel crisis, you waded in ending it and asked the Tanker drivers to end their strike. You even went a bit further in selling fuel which many of your colleagues said was scarce. Why did you single yourself out?
The masses were suffering and we needed to alleviate their plight. It was almost getting out of hand. The truth is that we don’t even know who instigated the strike.
Was it a sabotage?
It looked more like it. In a Press Release by Capital Oil shortly after the fuel scarcity, I told Nigerians that we cannot be part of the sabotage, to me, its a scam.
What was the reaction of some of your other colleagues who may have been surprised by your action?
Everybody is on his own. I am under obligation to service people that are storing product with me. I have a facility that stores Oil Products above Nigeria’s need. Some of the action would have had people suing us and we didn’t want that. Above all, I did that because of the suffering of Nigerians.
Why do you have so many of your colleagues against you, there is so much jealousy?
Such is life…you know that everybody cannot like you but at the same time, I strongly believe that as so many people like me, some will not also like me, Igbo people say Aku bu ilo (when God helps and you are very successful, so many people will be antagonising you and at the same time so many people will appreciate you. Its normal, even Jesus Christ was not loved by all.
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