Anambra govt refutes rumoured fallout between Soludo, ex-commissioner

The Anambra State Government has vehemently debunked the false and malicious claims of a conflict between Mr Governor, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, and his erstwhile Finance Commissioner, Mr. Ifeatu Onejeme, as reason for the recent resignation of the latter.

Onejeme resigned from his position with immediate effect on Thursday.

Though the circumstances leading to Onejeme’s resignation were not made public, the state governor, Charles Soludo, is said to have accepted the resignation which was handed in on Thursday.

A statement issued on Friday in Awka and made available to journalists by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Christian Aburime, confirmed the resignation of Onejeme who was appointed by Soludo at the beginning of his administration.

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Christian Aburime, in a statement said the wild rumours of fathom fallout were fabricated and propagated by a dubious, sponsored online media channel, Stargist, insinuating that the governor forced the former finance commissioner to quit over certain disagreements pertaining to the state finances.

He said the same reckless Stargist also shamelessly concocted a false claim of an alleged previous walk-out on the governor by the former chairman of the state internal revenue service.

“We categorically state that these allegations are nothing but a tissue of lies fabricated by sponsored propagandists with the intent of undermining the integrity and stability of the Soludo administration.

“The purported claims are not only baseless but also lack any shred of evidence as they are contrived attempts to mislead the public.

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“The truth is that Mr. Ifeatu Onejeme, an esteemed member of Governor Soludo’s government, resigned from his position due to purely personal and family-related matters, a decision that the governor understood and respected.

“In fact, in accepting the resignation of the former commissioner, the governor duly appreciated his commitment, professionalism and great service to Anambra State over the past nine and half years, as he helped facilitate a seamless fiscal continuity between the previous administration and the present one.

It would be recalled that Mr. Onejeme previously served as Commissioner during Obiano’s administration and was appointed Commissioner for Finance by Governor Soludo at the beginning of this administration to help the new government settle in.