The relationship between Anambra State government and business man, Prince Arthur Eze, has continued to deteriorate owing to unresolved differences. Arthur Eze has since vowed to mount pressure on the state Governor, Willie Obiano to do the needful.
Eze spoke at his Ukpo home in the Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State, on Sunday.
He said “I’m not afraid of anybody. I have installed three African presidents. One of them gave me oil blocks in his country. I have assisted in enthroning many governors in Nigeria.
“I have given a governorship candidate N10bn to assist him prosecute his election. I didn’t know the candidate from Adam. He just approached me and told me about himself and his people; I empthatised with him and gave him the money.
“Obiano is just a small fry. Even this Obiano, I have given him financial assistance as a person and as a governor several times. I have no personal problems with him. My grouse with him is that he is not doing the right things as a governor.
“Many people are suffering under his government. He is not paying the traditional rulers in the state their five per cent entitlement from the Local Government allocation.”
The oil mogul’s rift with the governor had led to the suspension of 13 traditional rulers suspected to be Eze’s loyalists.
In response, the Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C-Don Adinuba, said officials of the state government had decided to maintain “dignified silence” on comments by Eze.
Adinuba warned the mogul not to provoke the state government to start probing his abandoned contracts with the state “because we have his dossier.”
Adinuba said “What he is saying is not relevant and worth replying to. But I think the emergency activism of Arthur Eze baffles everybody and it’s funny. He’s not known for activism. I want to believe he has not forgiven Governor Obiano for beating him all-round in his Dunikofia Local Government Area in a recent election in the state.”