Posted by By BIODUN DUROJAIYE on
Anambra State Governor, Dr Chris Ngige has debunked widespread belief that Chief Chris Uba bankrolled his election into office, alleging that his erstwhile godfather in fact was yet to account for about N400 million out of monies donated for his campaign.
Anambra State Governor, Dr Chris Ngige has debunked widespread belief that Chief Chris Uba bankrolled his election into office, alleging that his erstwhile godfather in fact was yet to account for about N400 million out of monies donated for his campaign.
Making the allegation in his written submission to the National Investigation Panel of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), headed by Osun State Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Ngige also categorically stated that he never resigned as Governor of Anambra State.
Dr Ngige also denied ever telling anyone that he did not win the governorship election in Anambra State, adding that he was not connected with any electoral malpractice anywhere in the state.
Explaining how his election was financed, Dr Ngige said over N700 million was realised from various sources, alleging that all the monies were handed over to Chief Chris Uba.
"From conservative estimation, the funds expended on the gubernatorial election in Anambra State, from primaries to election proper, was not up to N300 million. One has been constantly at a loss as to what happened to the balance of the above-stated amount. Yet there is this spurious and bloated claim of sole sponsorship of the elections by Chief Uba," Governor Ngige stated.
According to him, of the N700 million realised as campaign fund, N127 million was PDP's subvention to him as gubernatorial candidate.
He alleged that the cheques for the amount were written in his name but the monies never got to the campaign funds as they were fraudulently converted.
On the purported agreement he had with Chief Uba, Governor Ngige explained that only two such pacts could be said to be valid, alleging that the others were either obtained under duress or were forged.
The two agreements he owned up to are the one from a clergyman who claimed to be acting on behalf of Bishop Chukwuma of Anglican Diocese of Enugu, and the one which Chief Uba claimed President Olusegun Obasanjo asked him to sign on PDP candidature, as corroborated by his brother, Mr Andy Uba.
He described as forged the two cheques for the sum of N3 billion he was alleged to have signed.
Insisting that he never resigned and does not intend to, Dr Ngige stated that "while I welcome peace, I make bold to state that it must be such that is founded on justice and equity, and most importantly, should reflect the wishes of the people of Anambra State."