Former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, has debunked the story credited to the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, that he (Obi) is the South-East Coordinator of Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN), a group campaigning for a second term for President Goodluck Jonathan.

Obi’s Media Aide, Mr. Valentine Obienyem, said in a statement issued today that the rally organised by TAN in Anambra State on Saturday was not even a political event, but a platform used to tell President Jonathan that he has done well for the South-East and call on him to continue by seeking re-election.

Obienyem said that many stakeholders in the South-East, including the Chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum, Chief Theodore Orji; Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Oseloka Obaze; Deputy Speaker, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Pius Anyim Pius; Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo; members of the Senate and House of Representatives from the South-East, among others, were all there. He said nobody mentioned Peter Obi as being the Coordinator and that it beats the imagination where Chief Umeh got his facts.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Obi is not a member of TAN such that being the Coordinator should not have arisen,” Obienyem said. “Obi made it clear that the one project he has now is to campaign vigorously for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan and he does not hide that. This is in consonance with the stand of his party, APGA, that its members should support President Goodluck Jonathan. In supporting him, Obi is not after personal gain, but is concerned with electing somebody who will continue and complete many of the on-going projects in the South-East, including the roads, the international terminal at Akanu Ibiam Airport, the Second Niger Bridge, the many erosion sites, the power plants, among others.”

Obienyem noted that Nigerians were aware of Obi’s antecedents, assuring that no amount of blackmail would prevent them from knowing and appreciating the truth.

He also wondered why Obi’s resignation as APGA BoT Chairman and Leader Designate should elicit cathartic reaction from some people, even when he is still a member of APGA. “Resignation could mean that he is not comfortable being associated with posts yet to be confirmed. It could be that he wants to allow the leaders of APGA to choose a person better than him. It could be that he needed more time for other engagements. In such decisions, what gentlemen do is to respect the person that has done so recognizing that he acted within his rights,” Obienyem said.

•Photo shows Peter Obi.

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