*My record in Anambra speaks for me
Former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, on Friday said he is not desperate to be President.
Mr Obi made the comment while appearing Saturday on Channels Television’s “Politics Today”.
According to Mr Obi, he left the Peoples Democratic Party for the Labour Party because the former no longer align with his political values.
“I’m not desperate to be President or anything,” he said. “I’m desperate to see Nigeria work. Especially for the youths of this country.
“I’ve moved to where I think the process might allow me.
“I would rather lose doing the right thing than win doing the wrong thing.
“My politics have been consistent in character and integrity.”
He replied Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State who lampooned Obi, saying that the former PDP Vice-presidential candidate was desperate.
Obi reminded Wike that that leaving the PDP does not in any way question his integrity and character, as he has never been found wanting in mismanaging public assets under his care.
Wike had in an interview on same Channels TV’s Politics Today on Thursday, attacked Obi for leaving PDP, saying it showed he lacked character and integrity.
But Obi replying Wike on the same channel said Wike’s talks about the issue of my integrity and my integrity for leaving the PDP, I don’t know how that came about. When we talk about integrity, we talk about it in the management of public assets.
“That is what we should be talking about in this country and when such things are mentioned about me, I feel maybe there is something missing somehow.
“Go and check my record as a governor, I was impeached for three reasons: one, my office had an approved budget for renovation of offices for N298m and I renovated everything with N43 2m.
“Secondly, my lodge, to renovate where I live, I got a budget of N486m, I did everything with N81m.
“Number three is that I was saving money without the approval of the House of Assembly.
“From day one I said we must save money, for eight years I was Governor, go and ask any contractor that worked with me whether I inflated any contract.”
Obi added that he left office leaving N75 billion behind because he knew he had to manage public assets entrusted in his care.
“When I left office, I left N75bn as at that time because it is public money and I am managing it on public trust.
“For me when you talk about integrity, it questions your management of public funds and resources.
“Go to Anambra State today, I have no land given to me by the Anambra State Government.
“The Managing-Director of the State Housing Authority, Mike Nwafor, is still alive, he gave me land and two houses and I rejected them.
“Nobody has ever seen me in my political life sharing money at any time.
“I am not saying I am a saint, but I did things which I believe were right,” Obi added.
