Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr Nkem Okeke
‘Obiano treated me wickedly,’ says Anambra Deputy Governor, rules out resignation
[From CHINEDU NWAFOR, Abakaliki]
Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr Nkem Okeke said he has no intention to resign his office.
Okeke recently dumped the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to join All Progressives Congress (APC).
He disclosed that some people had advised him to resign his office, but resignation, was not in his plans.
Okeke who spoke to journalists inside his office at Government House, Awka, revealed that he was wickedly treated by his boss, Governor Willie Obiano, saying he endured everything waiting for the right time to resign from the party.
This was the first time Okeke was visiting his office since his defection to the APC.
He said he was totally sidelined from the running of the government and from the party, to the extent that he didn’t know anything happening in a government which he held the number two position.
Okeke said, “Within the period I have been very loyal to my boss, but I have been unfairly treated, so I decided to leave the party. For four years, I drove one Prado jeep. At a stage, I was the only deputy governor in the country who drove a Toyota Prado SUV. I was loyal to him and represented him in a lot of places.
“The only time I refused to represent him was when Dr Chike Akunyili was killed and when he sent me to Enugu, I told him I needed security and also a bullet proof vehicle, and when they didn’t provide that, I decided not to go.
“I have heard people asking me to resign, but I will never resign. The decision I made to join the APC is in my interest, the interest of my family and also in the best interest of members of my constituency, Njikoka, which I represent.
“I have people who have advised me that the position I hold is not for me alone, but for the people of my constituency, so I represent them.
“I was elected on the same ticket with the governor of Anambra State, and I did not beg him to choose me as his running mate for a second time; it was he who came to me and said I will run with him for a second term and we won.
He also denied the allegation that he was lured with a huge sum of money to join the APC, saying, “I gave three conditions to leaders of APC, namely; defecting before President Muhammadu Buhari, a bullet proof vehicle and a federal appointment after his tenure as deputy governor.
He said two of the conditions he gave to APC leaders had been met, pending one, which is Federal appointment after their tenure.
“I was already thinking of joining the APC after my tenure as deputy governor, but when APC people came to me and I told them so; they said it was better for me to join now, as I could add to their victory. I gave them three conditions and they accepted,” he added.
Okeke also boasted that the chances of APC in next Saturday’s election was high.
