The independent Media Support Organization (IMSO) has called on the nation’s anti corruption agency to swiftly swing into action and unravel the mystery surrounding the N7billion which ex-governor Peter Obi allegedly demanded for refund as part of his investment on the 2013 governorship election in the state.
Reliably, news had it that the whopping sum of N7b was demanded by the ex-governor Peter Obi shortly after he left office in 2013. It was gathered that His Excellency Chief Willie Obiano his successor bluntly declined to pay Mr Peter Obi from Anambra State coffers. This we believed strained their relationship, and consequently his sojourn to PDP.
In this era of renewed fight against corruption , electoral corruption should not be over looked due to partisan innuendoes. It is imperative that the nation’s relevant anti corruption agencies wade into the Anambra 2013 N7bgate, investigate and make public its findings. This we believe would lay to rest the over fingered issue. Also, it would restore confidence in the tax paying people of Anambra state. We at IMSO demand that the anti corruption agencies should be more concerned on the source of the said N7b.
IMSO is precisely calling on the anti corruption agencies based on the account of Peter Obi’s media aide one Mr Val Obienyem who incoherently maintained in his recent press releases that there was no demand on Governor Willie Obiano and there was never a demand to reimburse the N7b incurred on his election by ex- governor Peter Obi. The question on every ndi Anambra lips now which requires urgent answer is ‘ How did Peter Obi realise N7b to sponsor the 2013 gubernatorial election?
It would be recalled that Joe Martins Uzodike who Peter Obi appointed DG of the 2013 election campaign has made the N7b claim since he was relieved of his appointment in Obiano’s administration in 2015. Many political big wigs in Anambra have also reacted that the N7billion claim by ex-governor Peter Obi was real and that he is currently sponsoring Oseloka Obaze the PDP candidate just so that he may regain access to our common wealth.
Also, we learnt that on May 14, 2016, News Express, an online medium, ran a lengthy interview wherein it credited Uzodike with these words: ‘The problem is simple…When he [Obiano] became the governor; it became obvious that he was not willing to pay the expended money.’.
Time to act is now, Nigeria must be free from electoral fraudulent practices, abuse of public trust, and siphoning of public funds.
Comr Harris Chuma, Executive Director, IMSO