Sunday Onyebuchi, impeached deputy governor of Enugu State said the reason he was impeached in a way he described as “rather funny” and “laughable,” was because those behind his impeachment felt threatened by his aspiration to contest for the Senatorial seat of his zone.
Onyebuchi also said that the reason he did not heed to the advice by Governor Sullivan Chime to resign was because he had asked himself what would be the reason for his resignation.
“What reason would I give to myself, my family, friends, associates and supporters. What reason would I give to them to justify it when they hear of my resignation?
“If I had committed any offence, or accused of embezzlement of public fund, I would have resigned so that people would not know about it. I would have happily resigned so that it would become a secret,” Onyebuchi said while responding to questions posed to him by our reporter via telephone.
Onyebuchi who was Enugu State deputy governor for over seven consecutive years said his loyalty to the governor and people of the state was confirmed when the governor was away from the state for about 5 months on account of ill-health while he (Onyebuchi) kept the affairs of the state running.
He said his efficiency in running the affairs of the state within that period was further confirmed by Chime in a letter to the State House of Assembly upon his return from the medical trip abroad as well as “commendations showered on me during the campaigns” for a second term in 2011.
Animosity ensued between the governor and his former deputy who were both Commissioners of Justice and Works respectively in the Chimaroke Nnamani’s cabinet immediately the embattled Onyebuchi indicated interest to run for Enugu East senatorial zone against Chime’s preferred candidate and Chief of staff, Ifeoma Nwobodo.
Debunking allegations that the governor was behind the impeachment of his deputy, Chukwudi Achife, Chief Press Secretary to the governor in an email exchange with TELL, said, “The Deputy Governor is solely responsible for the fate that befell him. He was charged and found guilty of gross misconduct bordering on insubordination, flagrant violation of the law and disregard for lawful and authentic directives of the Governor.”
While assuring that the governor’s camp is enjoying relative peace and stability, Achife said, “There was no animosity between the Governor and his former Deputy before the latter, for reasons best known to him began to engage in conducts unbecoming of his office,” he said.
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