Former governor of Anambra state, Chris Ngige has spoken on the performance of his successor, Peter Obi as governor of Anambra state.
Chris Ngige in a recent interview, appraised his successor, Peter Obi acknowledging that Obi’s administration utilized the public funds for public good.
While not disputing Peter Obi’s frequent claims of revolutionizing sectors such as education, commerce and trade, health, and security, Ngige pointed out that Peter Obi built on the foundation he had laid for him before leaving office.
He added that though Peter Obi brags about leaving outrageous unprecedented amount of funds for his successor, Peter Obi also inherited funds from his administration and which Peter Obi rarely mention.
He noted that the Obi’s governorship administration did not waste public funds and followed his footsteps and consolidated his administration’s initiatives.
Chris Ngige’s administration was truncated by a supreme court ruling against his 2003 Anambra governorship election victory.
Chris Ngige contested on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party and was declared winner of the exercise by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Ngige’s victory was challenged by the candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Peter Obi. The governorship election tribunal in Awka, Anambra state, in its ruling, held that Peter Obi of APGA actually won the 2003 governorship election. The decision of the tribunal was later upheld by the Supreme Court in 2006, making Peter Obi the first Nigerian to reclaim his governorship mandate through the court process.
Chris Ngige’s positive review on his successor’s administration comes in the face of the online face-off between Peter Obi’s supporters known as the Obidients and the supporters of president Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Obi’s reputation as one of the rare former state-governors with an impeccable records as well as remarkable accomplishment, is often challenged by the supporters of the ruling president Tinubu in a manner laced with falsehood and propaganda.
The former governor of Anambra state since leaving office in 2014, has maintained his stellar reputation of possessing incorruptible character, supporting public institutions through his philanthropic interventions.
Peter Obi aims to realize his presidential ambition in 2027, building on his encouraging outing in 2023 presidential election when he came third with more than six million votes.
He promises to cut down on the cost governance, to reposition the country’s economy and security architecture, and instill integrity and accountability in the Nigeria’s public institutions within a single four year tenure of his presidency.
However, Peter Obi’s presidential ambition faces a herculean challenge of beating political gladiators within the coalition party, African Democratic Congress (ADC) which he is party to.
Serial presidential aspirants, former vice president Atiku Abubakar looks forward to clinching the coalition party’s presidential ticket at the expense of Peter Obi and other aspirants.
Also, Peter Obi who has assured his supporters and Nigerians about the certainty of his name being on the presidential ballot paper in 2027, might as well be contemplating remaining in the Labour Party (LP) to contest for the 2027 presidential election if the ADC fails to unanimously adopt him as its presidential candidate for 2027.
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