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Former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Gregory Obi, has stated that there was no truth in the claim that he demanded ₦7bn for installing the state governor, Willie Obiano as has been widely speculated in many quarters.
He wondered how he could have left ₦75bn for the governor and turn around to ask him to give him ₦7bn out of it.
The former governor said since he left office about seven years ago, he has not received anything from the state government as an entitlement or gift.
Obi spoke during an interactive/stakeholders’ meeting of the Anambra State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party held in Awka, the state capital on Wednesday.
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He said, ‘Since I left Anambra State government seven years ago, I have not been given anything, not even a sachet of water by the state government. I still go about my duties, giving donations to schools.
‘Not even a letter of commendation or even a Christmas or birthday card has been given to me by the state government. I am, however, not bothered because that is not why I am in politics. I am in politics to contribute to the growth of the country.
‘Go and ask anybody, I don’t collect gifts to do favour to people. If you have a gift for me, please give it to the needy around you. All the people I have helped to win election, I have never asked for anything in return.
‘That is why I feel pained that somebody could say I demanded ₦7 billion for putting a governor in office. How can you leave ₦75bn for someone and turn around to tell him to give you ₦7bn out of it? That does not make sense. My interest in politics is for the right people to be elected so that our society will be good.’
Obi urged the party delegates to be careful about whom they would elect to fly the flag of the party in the forthcoming governorship election.
‘You must vote in people who have the capacity to win elections. Not all aspirants or candidates can win elections, so you must vote for people who can win elections. You must look well before you vote for people that will fly the flag of the PDP.
‘I assure you that our primary election will be free, fair, and credible Anything short of it, I am not involved and I won’t be part of it. I have no favoured aspirant, and let no one tell you they gave me money or anything because it is not true.
‘No aspirant has bought me a sachet of water. In my politics, I don’t believe in anyone giving me anything. I was governor of this state and a lot of you know me. Ask any contractor if they have ever given me anything. That is not the reason I am in politics. I am in politics to help gain a better future for Nigeria,‘ he added.
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