Obiano, Obi’s Feud Worsens; As War of Words Rages

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Monday, November 21st, 2016

By Ignatius Okpara

AWKA, ANAMBRA, NIGERIA (AFRICAN EXAMINER) -The ongoing feud between Governor Willy Obiano of Anambra state, and his predecessor, Peter Obi, is raging from bad to worst.

Obi and his successor have been at logger head since the former left office in 2013.

Mr. Obiano, had recently through his media aide, Oliver Okpala, threatened to deal with the ex- Governor and a former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Oseloka Obaze, as well as stop them from visiting Anambra over their alleged unpleasant comments on him which he considered to be unwarranted.

The Governor’s aide said, “To this end, this is a notice that, henceforth, any further unwarranted attack on the Governor will be met with a very tough response.

“Let it be noted that we have done our investigations, and we know that those sponsoring these unfounded attacks against the Governor include those who have tasted power before, either as Governor or Secretary to the state government.

“We have their records, to the minutes of details, and we will not hesitate to unleash a higher degree of attack on their persons with verifiable proofs in our possession so that the world would know the dirty stuff they are made of.”

But reacting to the threat weekend, former Governor Obi declared that his successor, Obiano, has no legal right to stop him from visiting the State or speak on how it is being governed.

Obi, who spoke at Oraifite in Ekwusigo council Area of the State, during the burial ceremony of late Benneth Offor, father of business mogul, Chief Emeka Offor, described the alleged threat by Obiano, as laughable and unrealistic.

According to Obi, who defected from the crisis- ridden All Progressive Grand Alliance, (APGA) to the opposition Peoples Democratic party PDP, “it would be disastrous if Anambra degenerates into a dictatorial society under a democracy.

“Such an order will amount to asking me to go on exile. I have a house in Onitsha and live there” the ex- Governor stated.

“I served Anambra State for eight years. As the Governor, I kept saying I would live in the State for the rest of my life to enable me share the joy and grief of the people, why would somebody say I should not attend events in the state?

“Why would somebody request that I should stop saying what I did as the Governor of Anambra State, when people are still talking about the good deeds of the likes of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and Chief M.I. Okpara?

“Most of the things said are not for self-adulation, but to use my experience to demonstrate to our people that we can do certain things we thought are impossible.

“Example was that I returned schools to the church and provided them with over 30,000 computers, generators and Internet connectivity.

“The fact is that under our government, we cleared arrears of pension of over N35bn, paid for all the certificates generated by contractors without borrowing a kobo, but instead left money, including dollars for the state.”

Also commenting on the development, Obi’s kinsmen, under the aegis of Agulu Leaders of Thought on Sunday warned Obiano to stop threatening their son.

They reminded Obiano that it was Obi that single-handedly made him a Governor.

In a statement signed by the group’s Secretary, Joachim Emegwamuo, the kinsmen stated, “when the news of the threat to the life of our son, Mr. Peter Obi, started circulating, we ignored it as one of those rumours until Chief Joe-Martins Uzodike made it clear during a radio programme.

“We are aware that it was Obi who single-handedly made Obiano Governor, and we are also aware of several indignities Obi is suffering under the Governor, ranging from lack of respect to continued and inexplicable witch-hunt.

The statement added: “Obiano has deliberately allowed his aides to abuse Obi to the point of openly denying the over N75bn bequeathed to him.

“Obiano has abandoned the projects started by Obi upon which he was elected, thus portraying Obi as an unreliable leader among the Anambra people.

“If anything happens to Mr. Peter Obi or any of his aides, Obiano should be held responsible.”

As the supremacy battle continues between the two Anambra state born political giants, only time will tell if the development would cost Governor Obiano, his second term ambition.