The last is yet to be heard on the brewing war of words over
the on-going probe of the suspension of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund
(NSITF) management, an agency under the ministry of Labour and Employment.
The probe is being carried out by Nigeria’s House of
Representatives.
Ngige’s outburst was in response to
a question from Reps member, James Fakele.
But Ngige’s then commissioner for information, Chief Charles
Amilo has now come out to debunk the stories, urging members of the public to
disregard Akunna’s claims.
Speaking from his country home in Anambra State, Amilo
brought a new twist to the report with another claim that Tinubu was taking
wristwatches from former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar’s hands.
According to him, “while Dr Ngige did not move money in
bullion vans, he was not poor before he became Governor in 2003.”
Amilo, popularly known as ‘Ude Obodo’, maintained that his
former boss did not have to beg Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to ride or own a car when
he had the wherewithal before he became Governor and owned fleet of exotic
cars, including the sliding open roof Toyota Landcruiser used to ferry Dr Alex
Ekwueme (of blessed memory) into the 1998 Jos Convention of Peoples’ Democratic
Party (PDP), not to talk about when he was Governor.
He claimed that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as Governor had the
habit of taking wristwatches from Atiku’s hands, both at the VP’s home or at
meetings in the villa as a sign of friendship and affection.
He added that Tinubu and Ibori sometimes did the same, but
not that they could not afford it.
Amilo said: “I was among the aides who were with Ngige
anytime he went to Abuja whether on official assignment or private function,
and he never at any time begged his Lagos State counterpart for a car. It never
happened. Whoever told you that story is lying.”
“On the issue of car, I can remember that French President
gave Asiwaju three old 2000 model 280s bullet proof. On a visit to Ngige at
Abuja, Asiwaju dropped one for Ngige at his Abuja Governor’s Lodge for use when
in Abuja in 2005 and kept one in Abuja, one in Lagos. Dr Ngige used it for five
months before he brought it back to Tinubu to give to Olusegun Mimiko who just
resigned from the Federal Executive Council ,(FEC) to join them in the
Anti-Obasanjo third term struggle and had to run against PDP as the Labour
Party governorship candidate in Ondo State,” he said.
Amilo said as Governor, Ngige used Mercedes G Wagon, not out
of choice but as a result of the turbulent security situation created in
Anambra State by Obasanjo and his cohorts.
He recalled that prior to politics, Ngige owned a motor
company in Victoria Island Lagos, known as ESS-DEE MOTORS, a flourishing Car
company on highbrow St. Adetokumbo Ademola Street, Victoria Island (VI) in the
90’s before their movement to Abuja.
“So, please they should stop talking about car, especially
about one who owned latest Mercedes Fulltime and Fulltime Toyota.
“Those peddling the story should go and rest as Dr Ngige is
not a car freak neither is he competing with anybody for who is richer,” Amilo
said.
He insisted that Ngige before joining politics was already
very wealthy both from medical practice, his motor company and vast quiet real
estate business.
According to Amilo, “Ngige was a Governor at the same time
as Tinubu with his security vote and monthly returns from Onitsha and Nnewi
traders.
“He is a medical doctor with a practice in Lagos before he
went into politics. Dr Ngige lived and practised in Victoria Island. He is a
member of Ikoyi Club.
“He had a flourishing car shop and real estate businesses,
apart from silent ownership and investment in about three of the highbrow
Hospital-groups in Ikoyi and Victoria Island.
“He was either a Governor, a Senator and Federal Minister
between 1999 and today. He always held elective or appointed political office.
“I know and we all know rich men take each other’s
properties particularly cars and wristwatches.
“It was said Babangida when he was President saw cars in the
VI home of his late friend, Dr Clarkson de Majomi, the Public Relations Guru.
Babangida asked and got Majomi’s Jaguar car! It didn’t mean Babaginda could not
afford a Jaguar car at the time,” Amilo said.
The former spokesman of Anambra State government said it was
sad for Tinubu’s group to portray Dr Ngige as one who was trekking all over
Lagos (as Governor) and had to beg Tinubu for a car.
He maintained that while Dr Ngige may not move his cash in
bullion vans, he acquired wealth from his professions, (medicine and politics)
to live in the comfort of a member of Nigeria’s Upper Class.
Chief Amilo advised Akunna “to be very careful with his
fabricated lies.”
“Despite Akunna’s saboteur role of leaking information to
the Uba/Obasanjo Abuja traducers, Dr Ngige rejected all entreaties for his sack
by State Executive Council (Exco) members and insisted on retaining him. Ngige,
however, asked that he should be sidelined but with full remunerations to enable
him cater for his family,” Amilo further claimed.
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