Nigerian governor denies sponsoring NDC campaign

Accra, July 3, GNA - The Governor of the Rivers State of Nigeria, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has denied channelling money through former President Jerry John Rawlings, to fund the campaign of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) congress during Election 2008. Amaechi has challenged the publishers of www.pointblanknews.com, who came up with the story to assist any investigative body with proof that he supported the NDC campaign.

The Ghanaian media carried out the publication, last week, which was originated by the news blog, which imputed criminal conduct on the part of the Governor.

The media report suggested that he had misappropriated state funds and doled out a $3.5 million cheque to former President Rawlings to help the NDC prosecute its electoral campaign.

Mr. David Iyofor, Senior Media Adviser to the Governor told the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Friday that "It's a simple thing, this can be confirmed. You give a $3.5 million cheque to Rawlings, it must go through the banks so let him come and tell us which bank in Ghana or which bank in Nigeria was the cheque cleared from". Mr. Iyofor described the allegations as 'arrant nonsense' and a figment of the writer's imagination.

He said the story "was a piece of irresponsible journalism and the Governor was very surprised that the spurious allegations elicited so much publicity in the Ghanaian media, when nobody back in Nigeria is talking about it because of its obvious unreliability". Mr. Iyorfor challenged the writers to put out which bank honoured the cheque to help any person or body interested in seeking the truth, to pursue the matter. He said the embarrassment that the publication had caused the Governor and his family was immense and advised the media to refrain from the spread of such untruth. 03 July 09