By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr Nkem Okeke, has said that he will not resign his position following his recent move to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Okeke who had been in hiding since dumping his party, All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA three weeks ago said that contrary to speculations that he dumped the party because he was not given the governorship ticket of APGA to replace Obiano, that he left because highhanded treatment from governor Willie Obiano.

Fielding questions from journalists who had besieged his office when the news of his coming filtered out, the visibly re-energized and confident former university Don stressed that he was unjustly treated and completely sidelined from the government and party (APGA), to the extent that he didn’t know of anything happening in a government where he held the number two position.

On the allegations that he was lured to APC with huge sums of money, Okeke described it as total falsehood meant to deceive and smear his reputation.

He said that he rather gave three conditions to the leaders of APC, saying that two had already been met.

Okeke said: “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 so much value to their victory. I gave them three conditions and they accepted.”

“These conditions include; defecting before President Muhammadu Buhari, a bullet proof vehicle and a federal appointment after his tenure as deputy governor, which he said was the only pending condition.”

He regretted that within the period he has been deputy governor of the state, he has been very loyal to his boss, but has been unfairly treated.

“So, I decided to leave the party. 1For four years, I drove one Prado jeep. At a stage, I was the only deputy governor in the country who drove a Prado. I was loyal to him and represented him in a lot of places and functions.

“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 because the atmosphere was tense highly insecure. But when they didn’t provide that, I decided not to go.”

On the chances of APC winning the November 6 governorship election, Okeke said: “The chances of the party are high, and its candidate too, has a greater chance of winning the election.

“I have sat down and talked with Senator Andy Uba. He has listening ears, and a good heart.

“Being a governor is not just about having chains of degrees, but one who is ready to assemble a good team, and also ready to listen to the team and the people he was elected to serve. I know that is where Andy is better than all of them,” Okeke said.

“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, who 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.”

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