By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Minister for Labour and Employment, Sen Chris Ngige, on Monday called for the sanctioning of Anambra businessman and politician, Prince Arthur Eze.

He made the call on the heels of the visit of 12 traditional rulers to the Presidential Villa, Abuja led by the businessman.

Ngige, who spoke with journalists in Awka, revealed that there was a contract recovery panel set up while he was a Governor that showed how the state fund was misappropriated by several godfathers in the state.

Though he did not mention names, he said that contracts given to them were left undone.

The Minister said: “People who live in a glass house do not have to throw stones because while I was governor of Anambra State there was a contract recovery panel which discovered and even indicted so many godfathers who took Anambra people’s money and did not execute contracts given to them. I have documents and facts in that regard. So Arthur Eze should be mindful of his statements.

“l never lived in Festac Town Lagos as stated by Arthur Eze. I first lived in Federal Palace Hotel Lagos, 1,004 house as well as Victoria Island. I stand by what I said that Arthur Eze should be sanctioned and not banished for aiding and abating the trip of the 12 traditional rulers to Aso Rock Abuja.

“While I was living in 1,004 Lagos Arthur Eze was coming to my house with his people and I squatted them and fed them, from 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1985.

“Be it known also that I never lived in Festac but Victoria Island and it was even Arthur Eze and his relatives that lived in Kirikri. I never had a Volkswagen Beetle but a Volkswagen Santana, so what they said is untrue”

Ngige recalled that “Arthur Eze’s family ran out of their home to Alor, my home town, as war refugees during the civil war”, adding: "That was how the friendship started and while they were there we took care of them till the end of the war.”

The Minister urged the 12 traditional rulers to relocate out of their communities in the interest of public peace and for their own safety.

According to him, there has been constant demonstrations and protests in those communities which has proven that they lack the capacity to take charge.

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