July 1, 2009
By Vincent Ujumadu, Awka

APART from the 2008 budget of Anambra State which polarized the state House of Assembly and led to its sharp division before the budget was finally passed after the intervention of the State Elders’ Forum, another issue that recently threatened the peaceful coexistence of the 30_member legislature is the controversial N250 million allegedly found with one of the aides of Governor Peter Obi.

Since that incident in Lagos over a fortnight ago, Governor Obi has been on the receiving end, with members of the opposition, especially the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) calling for a full probe into the matter. Some of those who are eyeing governorship seat in the state called for his resignation or in the alternative, that the PDP_ dominated House of Assembly should impeach him.

Shortly after the incident, the South-East zonal chairman of PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh who is from Anambra State visited the House of Assembly and castigated the lawmakers for not cashing in on such an issue to initiate impeachment against Obi



Gov. Peter Obi
To him, this is an opportunity the party was looking for to put Governor Obi on the defensive, especially with the 2010 governorship election in the state drawing near. As if that was the tonic needed by the house to begin another battle with Obi, the house set up a three member adhoc committee made up of Messrs Gabriel Onyenyeife, Chinedu Muokwe and Nnamdi Ezike.



In setting up the committee,the House observed that whereas the media , both internet and print were awash with reports that aides of the governor were intercepted with N250 million in cash and whereas the media assistant to the governor has dispelled the reports stating that the money belonged to a government contractor who preferred to carry cash to buy vehicles ordered by government, there was need for the House to get into the root of the matter. The house noted that since the governor himself had called for full investigation by the police, it was proper for it to look into the matter also as part of its oversight functions.


When the issue came up on the floor of the state assembly, the 2008 division of the members was reenacted as there was a rowdy session never witnessed since the inauguration of the House two years ago. At a stage during the debate, some of the lawmakers threatened to form a parallel House if the matter was not properly handled.



As it turned out, it was the same pattern of 2008 in which there were vocal 11 members against others who, based on their political inclination, would always find it difficult to see the good side of the Obi administration. One member for instance, Mr. Simeon Ohajianya representing Ihiala 1 constituency wondered why his colleagues should be pursuing an issue that had since been resolved.

Another member, Sylvester Okeke observed that unless there was another thing the house wanted from Obi, the issue of N250 million should be laid to rest. In the end, the committee could not submit the report and the belief in some quarters was that the matter has died a natural death.



Recall that Obi, who appeared surprised at the dimension the matter was taking, had earlier petitioned the Inspector -General of Police, Sir Mike Okiro urging him to investigate the matter, especially the angle that arms and foreign currency were found in his official cars that were going for repairs in Lagos which carried the said N250 million.

To him, the brouhaha over the interception of the said money was a grand political conspiracy to smear his image in what was a straightforward contractual and business transaction. It was gathered that the money in question had since been returned to the contractor who is already procuring the vehicles the money was meant for.



Indeed, when the opposition observed that the arms and foreign currency angles could not click, they dropped them and concentrated on the N250 million, which to them was the money belonging to Anambra people and which the administration of Obi was laundering.

The same issue came up again during the recent visit of members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors to Anambra State . The Guild was in the state for its standing committee meeting and seized that opportunity to visit some of the projects executed by the Obi administration. During a dinner in their honour at the Governors Lodge, one of the editors raised the issue and wanted the governor to clarify the situation.

Not wanting to preempt the on_going investigations by the Inspector-General of Police on the matter, Obi said though it would be better to allow the IG complete the investigation, there is the need for the editors to know that the matter was a genuine business transaction by the state government. According to him, the outcome of the police investigation would soon be made public so as to put the matter to rest.

Since Mr. Peter Obi mounted the saddle as the Anambra State governor in March 2006, one of the positive things often said about him is the transparent manner he has been piloting the affairs of the state. His admirers and even political foes would readily admit that if the previous administrations in the state had been prudent in the management of the finances of the state since its creation in 1991 the way he is doing, Anambra would have gone far in terms of development.

Those who commend Obis prudent application of financial resources in running the state refer to such issues as considerable reduction in amounts spent in the construction and rehabilitation of roads and building projects. For instance, most of the people who had toured projects executed by the state government in the past three years were surprised that government spent about N600 million to build the magnificent state secretariat in Awka which could easily pass for N1 billion project.

Also, road projects that would ordinarily cost billions of naira were done with much less amount because the governor would always insist on achieving the best with the least amount.

The answer to the governors style is not far_ fetched. Those who are familiar with what obtains in the state know that Obi uses only qualified contractors for all jobs in the state, rather than use such contracts for political patronage.

Even in the purchase of government vehicles, Obi would prefer to buy directly from the dealers so as to save money for the state and that was one of the reasons he was hated by professional politicians who depend mainly on government patronage for their upkeep. That was really why the recent report that Governor Obi’s aide was nabbed with N250 million in Lagos has refused to sink among unbiased people in the state.

Since the incident, Obi had been doing a lot of explanation. Last week, he was confronted by reporters over the issue and he gave details of what happened. The explanation ran thus: “Following the increasing incidence of kidnapping and robbery in the state, the state government held a meeting with the heads of administration in the 21 local government areas on the best way to handle the situation.

During one of the meetings, they agreed to purchase two vehicles each for the police and another set of Kia Optima cars for local government liaison officers who would be monitoring government projects in their areas.

Each of the local governments chairmen then issued a cheque covering the amount for the car to be allocated to his council and a car dealer was contacted to make the purchase on their behalf. However, the dealer who was known to government decided to cash the money in Awka and joined the governor’s convoy going to Lagos.



https://www.vanguardngr.com/2009/07/gov-obi-in-the-web-of-n250-million-controversy/


Lalasticlala
Seun
Mynd44
OAM4J

Hahaha.... Obi this Obi that!
Only looters are angry with Obi!

:

Whoever read above novel should please summarize in two sentences.

Obi is so clean, you can’t find nothing on him.

Whereas the apc man and the pdp man are the two most corrupt Africans alive…

OgunLaakaye:
Whoever read above novel should please summarize in two sentences.

Pass if you can't read.

OgunLaakaye:
Whoever read above novel should please summarize in two sentences.

They are trying to say Obi is as corrupt as tinubu and atiku. Whereas we know no human living on earth right now is as corrupt as Tinubu and atiku

I cant even understand your write-up.

Ddeliverer007:


They are trying to say Obi is as corrupt as tinubu and atiku. Whereas we know no human living on earth right now is as corrupt as Tinubu and atiku

Oh!

They are thieves!


Obi is just a better thief, but not the most experienced thief for the job.

Every political office holder in Nigeria is a thief! Both Ex and present.

Ddeliverer007:


They are trying to say Obi is as corrupt as tinubu and atiku. Whereas we know no human living on earth right now is as corrupt as Tinubu and atiku

Obi is a fraud

Explain bullion van

Trying hard to enlist Peter Obi in Atiku-Tinubu Corruption FC
If only they know Nigerian youths have decided to retire the Old order, they won't be wasting their time.

Una go tire sake of say anybody blessed by God nobody go fit curse am and have peace.

Always trying to rope ill stuff on Peter obi yeye