By Baron Ike
The controversy surrounding the conduct of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship primaries in Imo State has taken another dimension as the immediate past Senator representing Anambra Central, Chief Victor Umeh had written Governor Willie Obiano asking him to remove the party’s national chairman, Chief Victor Oye.
The APGA primaries in Imo drew so much attention that insinuations were deep that Oye was acting Obiano’s script.
Certain persons had also insinuated that Umeh was part of the racket.
The shameful manner the primaries was conducted led to the formation of a splinter APGA by members of the party from Imo called New APGA. The members and their supporters also vowed to work against the party during thye election.
In Umeh’s letter, he also advised Obiano to investigate allegations of the several millions of Naira and foreign currencies which some APGA governorship aspirants from Imo claimed Oye collected and promised to give them ticket as governorship candidate but reneged.
The letter which Umeh wrote on May 30 and sighed by Armadanews.com also listed the names of the Imo state APGA governorship aspirants who complained of how much they parted to Oye as Okey Ezeh, Stanley Amuchie, Ikedi Ohakim, and Humphery Anumudu.
Umeh, himself a former APGA national chairman, told Obiano that going by the weight of the allegations, Oye seems no longer fit to occupy the exalted position as chairman of APGA as his continuing stay in the position will have more terrible consequences on the party.
Umeh wrote: “I see these as very serious Moral Issues particularly as Oye has consistently insisted that he did not take money from anybody during the 2018 Primaries.
“I consider these Revelations as serious embarrassment to the Party and Gross Abuse of Office by Chief Oye.
“One unfortunate thing was that they engaged these Fellows by dropping your Name as supporting their Actions.
“Some of these were part of the reasons why I told you on the 28th of April, 2019 that Oye is unfit to continue in Office as National Chairman of APGA.”
According to Umeh, the APGA aspirants claimed the following sums to Oye.
Ezeh :N273, 250,000 (Two Hundred and Seventy Three Million, Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira).
Amuchie: N280,000,000 ( Two Hundred and Eighty Million Naira ) paid as N250,000,000 in $694,400 to Oye and anothe N30,000,000 paid in $83,333 to Chinedu Obidigwe.
Ohakim: $300,000 (Three Hundred Thousand Dollars) and N100M from him and other payments.
Anumudu: Said Oye collected 2018 TOYOTA Landcruiser Black Jeep from him under false pretense.
Umeh letter read in full:
Good evening Your Excellency.
I am constrained by Circumstances to write this Mail to you on the Activities of Chief Victor Ike Oye which I have a Responsibility to bring to your Attention.
For about two weeks now, I have been approached by some persons from IMO State with Complaints of Monetary Extortion from Chief Victor Oye during the last Primaries in IMO State with a Request that I pass them to you to direct Oye to return their Monies to them over unkept Transaction Promises.
I requested them to furnish me with Details of the Transactions.
I shall forward to you their Narratives and Documents for your Perusal.
I will suggest that you go through this and form your Opinion.
- MR OKEY EZEH.
From Okey EZE’s Account, Chief Victor Ike Oye with Chief Chinedu Obidigwe negotiated and took from him a total sum of N273, 250,000 ( Two Hundred and Seventy Three Million, Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) only in return for the Governorship Ticket of APGA for Imo State in the 2019 General Elections.
When this Arrangement failed, Chief Oye has been able to refund him only $100,000 made of two Installments of $50,000 each, leaving a Balance of N237,250,000.
Regrettably, Chief Oye told Mr Eze that I Chief Victor Umeh and Archbishop Valerian Okeke were responsible for His inability to honour their Agreement.
I will forward His written Petition to EFCC and some of the Bank Transactions with Oye and also bring it to the Attention of His Grace.
- MR STANLEY AMUCHIE
Mr AMUCHIE until his Resignation to join the APGA Gubernatorial Race in Imo State was the Chief Operating Officer of Zenith Bank PLC.
His Written Statement said that Chief Victor Ike Oye and Chief Chinedu Obidigwe negotiated with him and received a total sum of N280,000,000 ( Two Hundred and Eighty Million Naira ) in return for APGA Governorship Ticket in Imo State for the 2019 General Elections.
The Money was given as follows,
Chief Victor Ike Oye – N250,000,000 paid in $694,400.
Chief Chinedu Obidigwe – N30,000,000 paid in $83,333 leaving a Balance of N20m to be paid to him upon completion of the Primaries.
- CHIEF IKEDI OHAKIM
Chief Ikedi Ohakim narrated that Chief Oye Collected $300,000 ( Three Hundred Thousand Dollars) and N100M from him and other Payments. His Detailed Account is contained in his Petition to the EFCC. The Petition is also forwarded to you.
- CHIEF HUMPHREY ANUMUDU
Chief ANUMUDU said that Oye obtained a 2018 TOYOTA Landcruiser Black Jeep from him under false pretense. This is aside from other Dollar Cash receipts which he is ready to forgo.
He is already in Lagos State High Court with Oye and his Wife claiming N50m being the Value of the Car where Oye claimed that the Car is a Birthday Gift from Chief ANUMUDU. This Matter is also reported to the EFCC.
These are just Four Outstanding Cases. There are other Tales !
I see these as very serious Moral Issues particularly as Oye has consistently insisted that he did not take money from anybody during the 2018 Primaries.
I consider these Revelations as serious embarrassment to the Party and Gross Abuse of Office by Chief Oye.
One unfortunate thing was that they engaged these Fellows by dropping your Name as supporting their Actions.
Some of these were part of the reasons why I told you on the 28th of April, 2019 that Oye is unfit to continue in Office as National Chairman of APGA.
I believe that it will be FUTILE and DAMAGING to APGA if you continue to support him for a Second Term in Office.
I advise that you confront Chief Oye with these Revelations and consider asking him to Refund these Monies to them and bow out and save APGA from protracted Crisis!
Thanks and God bless.
Senator Dr Victor Umeh, OFR.