By Ikenna Obianeri
The Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has denied the allegation of spending N3.5 billion on vote buying during the March 18 State Assembly polls.
The governor, through his Press Secretary, Christian Aburime, described the allegation as “untrue” and “illogical”.
Prior to the March 18 polls, a civil society group, International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, had alleged that Soludo spent the amount for vote buying and other sundry issues in an attempt to win the poll at all costs.
But Aburime, in a statement on Monday, said the claims should be disregarded by the people of Anambra and the general public, adding that those behind the allegation had been known to be serial blackmailers who do not serve any useful purpose to society.
The statement was captioned, ‘Re: Anambra government spends N3.5bn on vote buying’.
It read, “The attention of the Government of Anambra State has been drawn to a false publication being peddled in some sections of the media bordering on the above headline.
“The satanic report alleging that (the) Governor Chukwuma Soludo-led administration spent a whopping N3.5bn to execute the state House of Assembly election is not only untrue but highly despicable and illogical.
“The allegation is further baseless against the background that it is coming at a time of acute shortage of cash due to the Federal Government naira redesign policy which sadly exposes the devilish intentions of the writer(s).
“Ndi Anambra are advised to disregard the non-existent International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) which made the said allegations. The people behind this organisation have been known to be serial blackmailers over the years who do not serve any useful purpose to society.
“Soludo does not need to buy votes to win the election. He is a democrat who enjoys the overwhelming support of the good people of Anambra State.
“The bogus claims by the author(s) are figments of their imagination and should be disregarded by Ndi Anambra and the general public.”
Source: The Punch
