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Anambra Crisis: Abana, Ngige Trade Blames

Vanguard (Lagos)
NEWS
November 12, 2004
Posted to the web November 12, 2004

By Emmanuel Aziken
Abuja
SENATOR Ikechukwu Abana (PDP, Anambra Central) has called for the suspension of
Governor Chris Ngige from the PDP for allegedly masterminding the crisis that
engulfed the State on Wednesday through his determination to undermine the
forthcoming local government elections.
But in an immediate reaction, Governor Ngige speaking through his Chief Press
Secretary, Mr. Chuks Akuna rebuffed the accusations saying that it was a well
known fact that the crisis was stirred by elements of the Chief Chris Uba group
in the PDP to which Senator Abana belongs. He alleged that Uba group was
panicked into starting the crisis because of their fear that Governor Ngige
would be seeking re-election in 2007.
Asking the PDP to suspend the Governor, Senator Abana said:"The PDP should
suspend Ngige for undermining the party. When the party published the list of
the party's approved local government election candidates, Ngige described it
as a 419 list and has since then embarked on war against the list and the
candidates.You will recall that two weeks ago the PDP chairmanship candidates
in the State addressed a joint press conference that they were refused forms
and screening by the State Independent Electoral Commission."
"When the chairmen now insisted on their rights" he said some people, began to
disrupt the whole system.
"This latest crisis has exposed the Governor and his antics that he doesn't
want the local government election to hold in the state, so when the candidates
had concluded arrangements to start their campaigns, he moved some people to
stop them.
"If Ngige allowed the local government election to hold, Nigerians will now see
that he is not on ground because all his candidates would lose."
But responding on behalf of the Governor, Mr. Akuna told Vanguard yesterday on
telephone that the Uba group who he alleged ignited the crisis were afraid that
Mr. Ngige could easily get re-elected should he so desire. He said Governor
Ngige had won the hearts of the populace with his impressive achievements
including the fact that no single case of armed robbery had been reported in
the State this year because of the general sense of contentment facilitated by
the regular payment of salaries and pensions to deserving beneficiaries in the
State.
Exonerating Governor Ngige from blame, he said:"Everybody in Anambra State
knows that it is the Chief Chris Uba group that began this round of crisis.
They were not prepared for the election because they were not qualified. They
have been parading a phantom list," he said.
Alleging that the present crisis was a continuation of the abortive effort to
get the Governor to resign last year, he said:"This is a continuation of July
10, they are intimidated by the Governor"s achievements. Anambra state since
July last year has not witnessed a single case of armed robbery. Salaries and
pensions are being paid as at when due, roads are being constructed, and
contractors are being paid.
"With these and other credentials of Dr. Ngige, these elements have ganged up
to stop him in 2007, even though he has not thought of seeking re-election. I
wonder why they are panicking."
"At the same time, I am calling on the Federal Government to wade into the
matter and bring these culprits to book and they are well known as the relevant
authorities are giving them cover and our people are not happy about it."

   

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