Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The former Governor of Enugu State and APC chieftain, Mr Sullivan Chime, says he endorsed PDP governorship candidate, Dr Peter Mbah, for governor because his party APC was dead in Enugu.
Chime stated this while speaking in Enugu on Wednesday on why he is endorsing Peter Mbah of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the governorship election on Saturday.
He acknowledged that he was at peace with the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the national level but not in Enugu, saying the party was not functional in the state.
“I am not engaging in anti-party activities because APC is not working in Enugu even the APC governorship candidate in Enugu State has not interacted with me on his ambition.
“The issue of governor in Enugu State is not about political parties but individual’s pedigree and competence as PDP and APC are long dead in the state,” Chime said.
He urged Enugu people not to vote party but to vote for a candidate that would give the state a brighter future and advance their course.
Chime debunked the insinuation that Mbah used Enugu State money as a Commissioner for Finance to build Pinnacle Oil and Gas Company.
The former governor said the allegation was ridiculous, stressing that it was not possible as all the approval on how the government’s money was being spent came from the governor alone.
“Commissioner for Finance only implements the approval,” he said.
He also described plea bargain against the PDP candidate as “a mere figment of people’s imagination,” challenging them to come up with evidence.
Chime added that Mbah was never taken to court by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) but that he subjected himself for interrogation when the administration he served as commissioner for finance was being probed.
He also said that Mbah was not from Ebeano family which people saw as a cabal that would hijack his government if elected under the platform of the PDP, assuring the people that ‘Ebeano cabal’ died since 2007 when he was a governor.