The All Progressives Congress (APC) Sen. Soni Ogbuoji, a governorship candidate in Ebonyi, in the 2019 general elections on Thursday reminded the electorate that their votes are not for sale, and urged them to vote wisely.
Ogbuoji, a serving senator representing Ebonyi South Senatorial zone gave the advice in a statement signed by Mr Ikenna Emewu, the Director of Media of his campaign organisation, and made available to newsmen in Abakaliki.
Ogbuoji is the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC)
The statement was quoted as saying that the campaign organisation was reacting to the recent announcement in Abakaliki of the donation of N1 billion by Chief Arthur Eze, renowned oil magnet and politician to the reelection bid of Gov. Dave Umahi of Ebonyi.
Eze, an engineer, who was recently appointed the Chancellor of Ebonyi State University, was in the state on Tuesday to perform the groundbreaking for the construction of New Cruise Housing Estate in Abakaliki.
Eze, who announced his support for the second term bid of President Muhammandu Buhari and Gov. Umahi, said the donation was to enable the governor fund his 2019 reelection.
He also donated N250 million to the traditional rulers in the state, who gave him chieftaincy title.
He lauded Umahi for his developmental strides in the state, especially in road infrastructure and urged the people to support him for second term.
But in a reaction, Ogbuoji campaign organisation described the N1 billion donation as ‘Greek gift’ and warned Ebonyi voters not to be swayed by money – bags in the 2019 general elections.
He urged the electorate to vote according to their conscience, saying that, “your votes are not for sale to the highest bidder, resist vote buying and vote wisely by voting according to the dictates of your conscience.”
The statement said that the campaign office received with shock and disbelief the announcement of the N1 billion donation to a man in opposing political party from a well revered chieftain of the APC.
“The donation is not ordinary and it leaves all us wondering what is the motive behind the gift, especially when it is coming from an APC chieftain.
“We find this development amazing because Eze is a respected party member whose allegiance should be to APC and who should support the party at all levels to succeed.
“His call to support the reelection bid of President Muhammadu Buhari and at the same time calling on people to support Umahi, a governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as against his APC candidate leaves much to doubt.
“To us, there is something behind the alleged donation than meet the eye and Ebonyi people must be wary of such gift.
“This is a Greek gift given to mortgage the future of the state and its people.”
It urged the people to be wiser and vote wisely in 2019 in order to enthrone credible, people-oriented government that would offer the state genuine and sustainable development. With reports by NAN
