Dr. Chris Ngige, the Minister of Labour and Employment, has claimed that his governorship was ousted because he refused to do their bidding of “opening” the Anambra State coffers for them.
Ngige, who declined to name the “godfathers,” also claimed that he was targeted by the “powers that be” because he chose to work for the people and the state’s development.
The minister made these statements after being honored by the traditional Ruler of Awka, Obi Gibson Nwosu, at the yearly Egwu-Uzu festival in Awka on Saturday.
Ngige, who served as governor of the state from 2003 to 2005, recalled that his administration, despite the massive debts inherited from his predecessor, embarked on mega infrastructure projects, public service reforms, prioritized workers’ and pensioners’ welfare, attracted federal presence, and enthroned peace and security in the entire state.
He was given the Igbo royal title of “Onyili Mmagba,” which means “the man who wrestled everyone to the ground, fled, and set others free.”
Ngige remembers being abducted as a governor and refusing to pay a ransom to be released.
He said, “I decided to work for the Anambra people and that became the main crux of the problem. Will you stand and work for the people or the godfathers? So, I stood with the people and worked for them.
“Before I came into office, Awka was a village but we transformed the village to a befitting capital city. We brought infrastructural development and introduced reforms in the public service. We tarred all the roads in the GRA, Awka. We dualised Nnamdi Azikiwe Road and put streetlights on them. We repaired the water scheme and got water running in three quarters of the city including Akwata.”
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