•Chief Victor Umeh
Former All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) National Chairman and now Director General of Governor Willie Obiano campaign organisation for the November 18, 2017 Anambra governorship election Chief Victor Umehas faulted the claim in some quarters that the former governor, Mr. Peter Obi, spent his personal money to sponsor the campaigns of Obiano’s first term.
Umeh who made the statement at a press conference in Awka explained that the funds used for Obiano’s first tenure were raised through fund raising that was done in Lagos and Abuja.
While noting that though the account was not rendered afterwards, that there was need to make the clarification because of the level of propaganda being peddled in the social media over N7billion said to have been spent by Obi for Obiano’s election in the 2013 governorship election.
His words: “I was the national chairman of APGA at that time and the party organised a fundraising ceremony in some states like Lagos, Abuja and abroad, and people contributed money for Obiano’s election, Obi never accounted for any of the funds at the end and we didn’t question him about it.”
According to Umeh, there was evidence that Obi was demanding money from the governor as money used for his election as his (Obi’s) mouthpieces were all over media houses in Anambra to tell the people of the state that those who sponsored Obiano wanted their monies back.
“I have even heard Obi on radio say that he sold his property in Abuja to sponsor Obiano, but that is not true. We raised funds in Lagos, Abuja and several cities, and Obi never accounted for them. I was the chairman of the party then, and I know these things.”
On the issue of N75billion which Obi said he left behind and has been squandered by Obiano, Umeh said the former governor was confused about how much he left behind.
“He had in a different forum said he left N75billion, in some other places he said N100billion, so he is confused about what he left behind. We are not disturbed about this because we know Obi.
“He did similar during his impeachment saga. He was impeached in 2006. We worked hard to get him back to power, and immediately he returned, the first public speech he made was that Etiaba had squandered the N28billion he left behind.
“We tried to stop him from toeing that line, telling him he should be thankful that he has been returned, but he insisted and there was war of words between him and Etiaba for many months. Obi is like that and we know him."
Umeh maintained that Obiano has proven himself to be a competent governor in just three years and six months through the achievements he has on ground which he added is there for everyone to see.
While saying that the campaigns will be issue based, he urged political parties, security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to play by rule to ensure a successful governorship election.
He further called on President Mohammadu Buhari to caution members of his party to stay away from intimidating the electorate using federal might.
The former national announced that APGA will formerly kick off its campaigns on Tuesday after a grand rally to be held at the Alex Ekwueme field.
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