2015: I Didn't Betray Uduaghan, Ibori—Elumelu

Elumelu defended his actions as Chairman, House Ad-Hoc Committee that investigated the power projects during the Olusegun Obasanjo administration.

A Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship aspirant in Delta State, Mr. Ndudi Elumelu, has denied allegations that he ganged up with other aspirants against Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and his predecessor, Chief James Ibori.

Speaking on his plans and programmes during a visit to Chat212 Newspapers’ corporate head office in Lagos, yesterday, Elumelu defended his actions as Chairman, House Ad-Hoc Committee that investigated the power projects during the Olusegun Obasanjo administration.

He also denied being desperate for the governorship, noting that he has a fall-back position after his political career.

Denying claims of betraying Governor Uduaghan and former Governor Ibori by his assent to the statement issued by some governorship aspirants, Elumelu, insisted that there was a cordial relationship between him and the incumbent governor, who he said he speaks to on a weekly basis.

Saying that many of the other aspirants who gave assent to the statement were insiders in the Ibori and Uduaghan administrations, Elumelu said he on his part had never benefited from a contract or served in any of the two previous administrations.

“I have never served in Ibori’s government, Okowa, Omo-Agege, David Edevbe, Ofuani and Ochei, all served under the governments. So, it is not a personal thing, but I can beat my chest to say I have never collected one Naira contract from any government and these can be verified from the government in Delta State.”

He added that he did not see anything personal for him not to have appended his signature if those who were in the frontline of the two administrations did not see anything wrong with the statement.

Asked how he intends to fund his governorship candidate if he has not been collecting contracts from government, he noted to say that his family business has been the source of his income and that he has a life after politics.