Posted by By GEOFFREY ANYANWU, Awka on
•Denies begging him
Erstwhile political godfather of Anambra politics, Chief Chris Uba has described as false, media reports that he apologized to the former governor of the state, Dr. Chris Ngige, stating that he never offended Ngige.
He said: 'I want to state categorically that I did not offend Dr. Ngige and there is no reason whatsoever for me to beg him for forgiveness. The said publication is false and should be disregarded in its entirety."
In one of the reports, Ngige was alleged to have said that Uba had begged him for forgiveness over his travails in office, while in another, Uba was quoted as denying begging Ngige.
But in a press statement on Wednesday, Uba distanced himself from the reports especially the one which claimed he denied begging Ngige, stressing that he never granted any interview to the reporter.
He described as embarrassing, shocking and mischievous the reports, which he said might have been planted by his political detractors to cause unnecessary rift between him and Ngige.
Uba emphatically said that though he had disagreement with his erstwhile benefactor, Ngige, 'I never at anytime begged Ngige for any reason because I have repeatedly explained to Nigerians that I played no role in the travails of Dr. Ngige while he was in office as Governor."
The statement further reads in part, 'It is instructive to note that since my disagreement with Dr. Ngige after installing him as governor in 2003, I have decided to put the past behind me and face my business. Nothing has brought us together since that period and at no time have I begged him or apologized to him because I firmly believe that there is no reason or need for it.
'I also wish to state that the statement credited to me in This Day publication of today, July 10, 2007 page 9 entitled, 'Uba Denies Begging Ngige," came to me as a sup[rise and with rude shock because I did not speak with the correspondent of the newspaper. The publication which made uncomplimentary remarks about Dr. Ngige may have been planted by mischievous individuals to cause unnecessary rift between Dr. Ngige and myself."
He however said that he had briefed his lawyers on the embarrassment the media reports have caused his person and was waiting for the advice on the next line of action.