» Peter Obi & Jonathan Brought Boko Haram Prisoners To Anambra, Not Me – Obiano «

Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State,
Thursday, said the transfer of Boko Haram
prisoners to Ekwulobia prisons in Aguata Local
Government Area of Anambra State, was
concluded in 2012 under former President
Goodluck Jonathan administration.
The governor, who spoke through his Senior
Special adviser on Political Matters, Mr. Chinedu
Obidigwe, said the decision was taken during a
seminar organized for officers and men of the
Nigeria Prison Service, NPS, in which Ekwulobia
and Kuje prisons in Anambra and Abuja capital
territory respectively, were chosen as prisons for
the Boko Haram inmates.
But former Governor Peter Obi, in a swift
reaction, expressed shock about Governor Willie
Obiano’s claims, describing it as a blatant lie.
However, Obidigwe said the transfer of Boko
Haram suspects would have been effected
immediately but for the 2015 general elections on
ground that it would affect the second term
ambition of Jonathan in the South East geo-
political zone.
Obidigwe contended that a decision made under
the nose of past administrations in the state and
the country in general should not be blamed on
the current regime in Anambra.
“In as much as the state government would not
want to join issues with such section of the
public, it is important to note that the policy of
transferring Boko Haram inmates to Anambra
State had been made since 2012 under the
regimes of President Goodluck Jonathan and Mr.
Peter Obi, but for the 2015 general elections
which the then President was contesting for a
second term.
“Since the transfer of the 47 inmates, panic had
gripped the people of Ekwulobia as residents in
the area were apprehensive of an imminent attack
by members of the Boko Haram Islamic sect,’’he
said.
Reacting to the claim that former President
Goodluck Jonathan and former Governor Peter
Obi were behind the relocation of Boko Haram
terrorists to Anambra State, the media aide to
Peter Obi, Mr. Valentine Obienyem, said he was
shocked that Governor Willie Obiano would
personally sign such a release laying claims to
what appeared nauseating and childish.
Obienyem said that such a claim would only end
up proving to the people that there were more to
the relocation than they already knew.
Describing the claim as a blatant lie, Obienyem
wondered how an action or a plan concluded by
a man who left office almost 16 months ago was
being implemented now.
He said: “The governor is clearly looking for an
alibi for an action that was against the people. He
should look elsewhere and not in the direction of
Mr. Peter Obi, who, since he left office, had opted
to stay away from Awka and not to distract the
present government in any way.”
Obienyem said Anambra people expected
commendation from Obiano for Obi for the N75
billion in cash and investment he left for him and
for restoring the pride of the state when other
governors were bequeathing debts to their
successors, rather than trying vainly to drag his
name to the mud through statements such as
this present one linking him to the Boko Haram
issue.
He said the present campaign was not the first,
recalling that the same people mass-produced
documentaries against Obi and shared them free
to people.