From Joseph Obukata,Warri
The Governorship candidate of New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Dr. Goodnews Goodman Agbi, has disowned a leaked document portraying him as having a deal with Governor Ifeanyi Okowa in which his campaign would be funded by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led government.
The purported proposal which had Agbi’s letterhead paper, shows that Agbi had a political deal with Delta state Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa and PDP vice presidential candidate to work for PDP and its governorship candidate while hiding under the NNPP’s platform.
The letter which was route through the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor (Inter Party Relations), claimed that Agbi is expected to get refund of expenses incurred before he agreed to work for the PDP.
Some of the expenses made that Okowa is expected to pay include N22 million naira for the gubernatorial form purchased by the NNPP candidate.
The governor, is also expected to pay for billboards, campaign consultations, materials, logistics which is about N17.5m for press conferences, newspaper interviews, regular appearances on TV stations like Arise, Channels among others.
But reacting to the leaked document dated 20th October, 2022, Agbi told our Correspondent in a telephone conversation that the letter didn’t emanate from him, adding that it was fake and an attempt by his opponent to smear his image.
He said that his party has officially issued a statement which he forwarded to our correspondent via WhatsApp, disclaiming the document and exposing who was behind it.
The statement e-signed by Comrade Joseph Edegware, head, media of the Rabiu Kwankwaso’s party in the state, accused the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege of manufacturing the letter to malign the hard-earned reputation of its guber candidate.
The statement reads; “Our Attention has been drawn to a fake document being circulated by Omo-Agege and his crew.
We have decided to ignore it as a document of dubious origin that never originated from our principal but on a second thought to respond to clear the air.
“We categorically state that this document is the handiwork of Omo-Agege and his crew.
“Our principal is too refined, too enlightened, too educated and too credible as to discuss such weighty matter with a Senior Special Assistant and incredibly, to reduce such a discussion to writing when he has access to the governor, to Omo-Agege and to any senior politician in the State.
“This type of cheap political blackmail is too pedestrian for somebody of Omo-Agege’s caliber, though we are of his serial deceptions and betrayals of friends and political acquaintances for his selfish interest”.
“Our Principal, a renowned Engineer, a fellow of the Engineering professions, a fellow of African Business School, a Catholic Knight of Saint John International, the Okpolokpo 1(lion) of Iyede Kingdom, the Okpobrisi (great & terrifying tree) of Oyede Kingdom and an academic of great repute can not and will not condescend to that level Omo-Agege is struggling to portray him”, the statement further reads.
Omo-Agege’s political camp was yet to make any comment on the allegation that they are behind the document.