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There is no denying the fact that there will be a governorship election in Anambra State before March 2010, to allow for a fresh mandate for Governor Peter Obi to serve his second tenure. Obviously, for this reason, and for the fact that Governor Obi is widely and almost unanimously adjudged as a credible deliverer of basic and fundamental democracy dividends, his political opponents (known for their characteristic desperation), are once again, on the prowl.

The fact that their previous numerous efforts to shoot down his ever rising profile had flopped abysmally, the governor's detractors have today resurfaced with yet another laughable and contradicting scandal mongering.

The latest of their infantile tale is that officers of Nigerian Police in Lagos intercepted an aide of the governor, who allegedly possessed firearms and raw cash of N2.5 billion. These scandal mongers, who to some extent succeeded in fobbing off a few people in Lagos, in the same breadth, alleged that the amount found on the so-called aide of Governor Obi is fifty million US dollars. They also said that the money is meant for laundering in foreign banks.
However, these claims are blatant lies.

The plain truth about the matter is that no firearms were found on the so-called aide of the Governor. The man being referred to is Mr. Ejike Onwusogbulu of Glitz Introverse Company, who entered into a legitimate and transparent business agreements with the Anambra state government to purchase some vehicles for local governments in the state. The actual amount of money found with him is N250 million. It therefore beats the imagination of all right-thinking persons why the governor's detractors should claim that naira currency which is the legal tender of Nigeria is being laundered in the country.

Be that as it may, it is worthy of note that Governor Obi in his usual display of honesty, probity, accountability and transparency promptly wrote to the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, asking him to thoroughly investigate the matter and let the whole world know the truth. It should also be pointed out that contrary to the claims that the governor's convoy and his so-called aide were accosted or intercepted by the police along the road somewhere in Lagos, the truth of the matter is that the police, apparently acting on a false tip-off by the scandal mongers actually accosted the convoy and Mr. Onwusogbulu at the Anambra state liaison office in Lagos.

It is also instructive that the bags or boxes containing the money meant for the purchase of vehicles were opened in the presence of Governor Obi, (who had to travel immediately to Lagos to witness the incident) and the Lagos state commissioner of Police. No single fire arm was discovered by the police in the presence of the Lagos state police Commissioner. The money in question is meant for purchase of vehicles at cost-effective prices. This is not out of place with Governor Obi's knack for prudence.

It is pertinent to observe that even before he became the governor of Anambra state, Mr. Obi was already a very wealthy and contented man who was motivated to seek public office by his desire to serve the people. Therefore the attempt to associate him with N250million scam is not only funny, it’s also laughable.
Given Obi's performance since March 17, 2006, his political opponents know that they do not stand any chance against him in the 2010 governorship election, hence they have resorted to crass propaganda aimed at tarnishing his image. Fortunately, this puerile method will no longer jell with Ndi Anambra who are witnesses to the positive and massive socio- economic and infrastructure transformation going on their state.

The latest of the significant accomplishments of the Obi administration is the presentation of the structure plans of the three major cities of Anambra state, namely: Awka Onitsha and Nnewi by the United Nations Habitat to the Obi administration which initiated the project by the UN Habitat. This project is the first of its kind in sub-Sahara Africa. This and other accomplishments of Obi in barely three years in office apparently explains why the respected and revered prelate of the church of Nigeria, (Anglican Communion), Archbishop Jasper Akinola publicly called on the electorate to vote massively for the governor in the 2010 governorship poll in the state.

Those behind the latest unjustified spate of propaganda against Obi are the same persons who rigged the April 19, 2003 governorship poll in the state.
They are the ones behind the illegal impeachment of Obi in November 2006. The people of Anambra state are not oblivious of the fact that it is those who are today maligning their popular governor that were behind the illegal governorship election in their state on April 14, 2007.
Just like previous unfounded allegations the latest allegation of N250 million swindle has fallen flat on its face. It will rather than diminish Governor Obi's chances in the 2010 poll guarantee another resounding victory for him.

Kwentoh is Chairman, APGA, Anambra State.