A former Governor of Anambra State, Chinwoke Mbadinuju, tells JOHN ALECHENU how ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo plotted to impeach him
If I recall correctly, the problem of your administration started quite early. What happened?
It is true. The inauguration of the Anambra State House of Assembly incidentally marked the beginning of the crisis that shook the political foundation of the state. It was also the earliest manifestation of the viciousness of godfathers in the politics of the state. The interest of these godfathers clashed with the interest of the state government and it nearly marred the take-off of my administration. Dr. ABC Orjaiko, who could be said to be the power behind my emergence as governor of the state was fully involved and sought for reconciliation. Sir Emeka Offor, up to this time was still my ally, K.C Enemuo was to emerge as the Speaker of the House of Assembly, supported by only 11 out of 30 members of the House.
How true were allegations that you virtually opened the state treasury for your political godfathers to have a field day?
Talking of the state treasury and those who were supposed to have looted the treasury that contained nothing in the first place some think of Chris Uba. But Chris Uba emptied no treasury during my tenure. The military administrator before me awarded contracts to Uba and both sides agreed for payment of an Irrevocable Standing Payment Order of N10million every month to execute the contract of building the new Government House and Lodge. While this was going on, the government added to him the roads crisscrossing the new layout. But his opponents cooked up rumours against him, and unfortunately, the jobs that were more than halfway completed were not touched by successive administrations.
Assuming you knew little or nothing about the actions of the 11 lawmakers, why do you think they did what they did considering the fact that 11 is not greater than 19?
