The Pioneer chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Anambra State, Chief Joseph Okonkwo, aka OFIADIULU has advised Governor Peter Obi to drop his plan to produce 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.
Nwobu -Alor Victor Umeh
”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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