Chief Joseph Okonkwo, The Chairman of
Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Anambra State, has advised Governor Peter Obi
to drop his plan of producing his successor in the forthcoming governorship
election in the state, saying such an arrangement had never worked.
He also dismissed as untrue and
embarrassing the allegation that the national chairman of All Progressives
Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, was his driver.
He explained that Umeh had served as his
special assistant and was highly pleased by his (Umeh’s) rising political profile.
Chief Okonkwo, who is popularly called
Ofia-di-ulu, said he had personally admonished Governor Obi on the need to
complete his tenure successfully and quit honourably without wasting his time
to pursue the installation of his successor.
He said: “I have told Peter Obi not to
bother himself about installing his successor. It doesn’t work particularly in
our Anambra State and we will not allow it this time around.
“The votes will count and whoever succeed
wins. Nobody will write result in his room. There is nothing like incumbency
factor in Anambra because there are so many interests and everybody will come
out to ensure that only the best emerges as the next governor”.
Okonkwo, a first republic politician, said
he was confident that the chairman of Independent National Electoral
Commission, INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, would ensure that Anambra State
election was not hijacked by any group, stressing that the best candidate which
would emerge from the PDP would have a better chance to govern Anambra State
after Obi.
Faulting the description of the APGA
chairman as his former driver, Okonkwo said Umeh had worked diligently with him
in the past as his personal assistant and was proud of him.
He added hat it was his political
mentorship that had contributed to Umeh’s successful political career which
produced two governors in Anambra and Imo states respectively.
Okonkwo said: “I read in a newspaper where
the Obi people said Victor Umeh was my driver. That is a complete fallacy.
“The truth is that Victor was never my
driver, he was my special assistant.
“He is my boy, my product and I am proud
of him. He has now installed two governors in his party, APGA, and these are
what he learnt from me.
”I told Obi to call Nwobu-Alor to order
because Nwobu-Alor has personal grouse with Victor Umeh which was connected to
me years back. I told Peter to go back and work with Victor because he is a
hard working young man and that he should enjoy his fruit of labour.
“Victor is an educated estate manager
before he went into politics. I still urge Obi to go and reconcile with Victor
because both of them are my boys.”
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