Posted by By CHRISTIAN ITA on
Immediate past governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chris Ngige has accepted the hand of fellowship extended to him by his successor, Mr. Peter Obi by expressing his willingness to work with the new administration at whatever capacity which might be deemed fit for him.
•INEC backdates Obi's tenure to April 19, 2003
Immediate past governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chris Ngige has accepted the hand of fellowship extended to him by his successor, Mr. Peter Obi by expressing his willingness to work with the new administration at whatever capacity which might be deemed fit for him.
Obi, in his inauguration speech Friday, had extended a hand of fellowship to all Anambra State indigenes, including Ngige and his erstwhile political godfather, Chief Chris Uba.
A government house source in Awka told Sunday Sun that Ngige who was absent at the inauguration of the new administration, personally called up Obi on phone in the early hours of yesterday (Saturday) to congratulate him.
In the telephone conversation which Sunday Sun gathered lasted over 30 minutes, the former Anambra State governor, while accepting the verdict of the Appeal Court that removed him from office, however refused to accept responsibility for the rigging of the April 19, 2003 governorship election in the state.
Ngige reportedly insisted that he was only a candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and knew nothing about how the election results were altered.
Confirming the talks between the duo, the media aide to Ngige, Fred Chukwuelobe said Ngige called his successor on phone to offer his congratulations.
Chukwuelobe said he was however, not privy to the details of the discussion. But the reliable source in government has said: 'Ngige called his Excellency on phone early this morning (Saturday) to congratulate him. He (Ngige) also said he was ready to work with his Excellency in whatever capacity he may deem fit."
Meanwhile, as controversy mounts over Obi's tenure, Sunday Sun learnt that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has backdated his tenure to 2003. Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana opened this line of controversy Wednesday when he claimed that Obi was entitled to four-years in office going by the provisions of section 180, subsection 2 of the 1999 Constitution.
Following therefrom, the All-Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) Thursday signified its intention to seek the Supreme Court's interpretation on the matter.
The party's National Chairman, Sir Victor Umeh had, moments after Obi was given the Certificate of Return by the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Maurice Iwu Thursday, said his party would be seeking judicial interpretation regarding the tenure of Obi.
However, Sunday Sun scooped at the weekend that the Certificate of Return Iwu gave to Obi is dated April 19, 2003.
Confirming this, APGA chairman said the date on the Certificate of Return does not, however, mean that Obi has only 14 months to spend in office.
Umeh, who spoke with Sunday Sun via telephone yesterday, reaffirmed his readiness to seek the Supreme Courts interpretation on the issue.
Said he: 'Lawyers are expressing different opinions. There is need for interpretation. The 1999 Constitution is very clear on that. It says a governor shall be in office for four years starting from when he was sworn-in."
On the apprehension expressed in some quarters regarding the dominance of the state House of Assembly by members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umeh said such fears were unfounded.
Umeh said though the governor belongs to a different party as the lawmakers, he was certain that they would work in peace and concord for the interest of the state.