Why I returned over N73 million donations, withdrew from Enugu guber race – ex-APC chair

Former Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Enugu State, Ben Nwoye, Friday, stated he withdrew his governorship ambition and returned over N73 million donations to his supporters forward of the occasion’s governorship main.

The previous APC chairman acknowledged this whereas talking on, “Political Voice,” a programme on Dream FM radio station in Enugu.

“I used to be presupposed to run for governor. Are you aware that I obtained a bit of over N73 million from individuals who needed me to run?

“I even acquired N5,000 from a younger entrepreneur based mostly in Nsukka to contribute for me to purchase the N50 million type. Even retired principals, retired academics despatched cash to me to purchase type and run,” he stated.

Mr Nwoye, nonetheless, stated he withdrew from the race and determined to return the cash to the people who had donated the cash to assist his governorship ambition within the state.

He stated the choice was based mostly on his realisation that the end result of the governorship main had been determined by the occasion management earlier than it was held, describing it as “a pre-determined contest.”

“However on the finish of the day, I discovered that there was a candidate that was already pre-crown. Regardless that I acquired about N75 million donated by individuals, I stated No. In good conscience, I can not do it (run for governorship) as a result of it was not going to be a contest.

“Sure, it’s not my cash. Folks donated cash to me. I stated I used to be going to return the cash to them and I did. Even individuals from the USA, who thought I ought to run, I returned all their cash. Yesterday, I returned the final batch of it.

“There was no contest as a result of somebody stated he has a pal in Enugu State and was going to anoint his pal to turn into the subsequent governor of Enugu State and he has all the cash to do it. I can not compete to be governor. I can’t,” he defined.

Like different political events in Enugu State, the APC elected Uche Nnaji as its candidate in the course of the occasion’s governorship main.

Mr Nnaji, a consensus candidate, was the only contestant within the train.

Abuses: Apology to Chimaroke, Ekweremadu, others

Mr Nwoye condemned alleged verbal assaults and abuses on some leaders of the Peoples Democratic Occasion (PDP) in Enugu, by the Chairman of APC within the state, Ugochukwu Agballah.

Mr Agballah had, throughout a press convention, accused a former governor of Enugu State and lawmaker, representing Enugu East District within the Nigerian Senate, Chimaroke Nnamani, of masterminding the emergence of Peter Mbah, the PDP governorship candidate, as a grand plan to not directly take over the affairs of the state.

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Describing Mr Mbah as a political protégé of the previous governor, Mr Agballah claimed that Mr Nnamani’s earlier reign as governor was fraught with unhappiness, tragedy, and brutalisation of Enugu individuals vowing that he would foil the ploy to foist what he termed “Ebeano political dynasty” within the state.

The APC chairman was additionally stated to have made scathing remarks in opposition to a former deputy senate president, Ike Ekweremadu and different PDP leaders within the state.

However Mr Nwoye stated the verbal assaults on the PDP leaders had been appalling and didn’t symbolize the occasion’s ideology and weren’t the best approach of placing up an opposition that can entice individuals from different political events.

“I sincerely apologise to former governor, Chimaroke Nnamani, for the abuses rained (on him) by Ugo Agballah. I apologise to Ike Ekweremadu. The abuses meted out to him had been undeserving. And in addition, apologise to Peter Mbah. We don’t assault (different candidates). We promote our personal candidates,” Mr Nwoye acknowledged.

He appealed to Mr Agballah to desist from foul language and emulate his (Mr Nwoye’s) use of proper phrases when he was the occasion chairman which resulted within the defection of a former governor, Sullivan Chime, and different high-profile politicians into the occasion within the state.