Boko Haram prisoners move to Anambra concluded under GEJ –Governor Obiano

Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State has revealed that the transfer of Boko Haram prisoners to his state, Ekwulobia prisons to be precise, was concluded in 2012 Goodluck Jonathan administration.

The governor, who spoke through his Senior Special adviser on Political Matters, Mr. Chinedu Obidigwe, said the decision was taken during a seminar organized for officers and men of the Nigeria Prison Service, NPS, in which Ekwulobia and Kuje prisons in Anambra and Abuja respectively, were chosen as prisons for the Boko Haram inmates.

Funny enough, in a swift reaction, a former Governor of the state Peter Obi has expressed shock about the claims by Governor Willie Obiano, describing it as a blatant lie.

Obiano's man, Obidigwe said the transfer of Boko Haram suspects would have been effected immediately but for the 2015 general elections on ground that it would affect the second term ambition of Jonathan in the South East geo-political zone.

Obidigwe contended that a decision made under the nose of past administrations in the state and the country in general should not be blamed on the current regime in Anambra.

“In as much as the state government would not want to join issues with such section of the public, it is important to note that the policy of transferring Boko Haram inmates to Anambra State had been made since 2012 under the regimes of President Goodluck Jonathan and Mr. Peter Obi, but for the 2015 general elections which the then President was contesting for a second term.

“Since the transfer of the 47 inmates, panic had gripped the people of Ekwulobia as residents in the area were apprehensive of an imminent attack by members of the Boko Haram Islamic sect,’’he said.

But describing the claim as a blatant lie, Peter Obi wondered how an action or a plan concluded by a man who left office almost 16 months ago was being implemented now.

He said: “The governor is clearly looking for an alibi for an action that was against the people. He should look elsewhere and not in the direction of Mr. Peter Obi, who, since he left office, had opted to stay away from Awka and not to distract the present government in any way.”

Someone is lying, someone is telling the truth. We will soon find out the truth.