GOVORNOR Willie Obiano said he refused to pay N7.5 billion demanded by Peter Obi, a former governor, because there was no justifiable basis to pay such a huge sum.

“The demand was not convincing enough as he failed to render accounts of all funds generated to support the election,’’ Obiano said during his campaign rally at Eze Chima Primary School, Onitsha, at Onitsha North Local Government Area, LGA.

“I was not convinced that it was right to part with such an amount because I know full well that there were fundraising effort to support the campaign and the former governor was in charge of the funds and did not render account after the election.

“When he demanded the money, I told him it was too much as it would be in the interest of the people.

“If I had done that, I could not have been in a position to continue to pay workers’ salaries and build infrastructure.’’

The governor explained that the clarification was necessary because of recent accusations against him by the former governor.

“I insisted that I will only use public funds for public purposes.

“My interest is to improve on the lives of Ndi Anambra and give them a resounding access to life. This is why we fell apart. So, don’t be deceived by whatever they tell you,” Obiano added.

On the varying sums which the former Governor claimed he left behind, Obiano made it clear that he inherited liability of about N127 billion from him in contracts awarded and other responsibilities.

“Out of this N127 billion, we have gradually paid off N67 billion to contractors for every valid certificate raised. I continued doing all these in the spirit of continuity,” the governor noted.

He re-assured the people that he would continue providing necessary facilities so as not allow anything to distract him from fulfilling his promises to Ndi Anambra.

Victor Umeh, the chairman of the Governor’s Re-election Campaign Committee, said APGA as the political spirit of Ndigbo, had in the past three and half years, availed Ndi Anambra good governance at its best.

He reminded the people that the upcoming gubernatorial election was not about Willie Obiano but about ensuring that the state remained free from political ‘godfatherism.’

Chukwuma Soludo, a former governor Central of Bank Nigeria, CBN, said that at this time, the state needed a tested hand like Obiano, who had the experience and expertise to effectively steer the affairs of the state.

Eddie Ibuzo, the member representing Onitsha North Two Constituency in the State Assembly, and Chugbo Enwezor, his Onitsha North 1, counterpart, said the governor had done more in three years than any previous governor.

He pointed out that for their people November 18 was a matter of sustaining good governance in the state.

In separate remarks, Patrick Agha Mba, the transition committee chairman of LGA and Augustine Chukwuka, an APGA stalwart, said that Ndi Anambra had enough reason to vote for Obiano at the upcoming election because he had shown in visible terms that he could move the state forward.

No fewer than 1,000 have decamped from the Peoples’ Democratic Party, the All Peoples’ Congress and Labour Party to the APGA.

– Oct 20, 2017 @ 13:47  GMT |