I Was Removed as Governor for Refusing to Make Chris Uba My Deputy – Ngige

• Ngige recalled that late Senator Ibrahim Mantu conveyed the demand, and when he met with the main powerbrokers, he was told appointing Uba as his deputy was the key condition.

Former Anambra State Governor and ex-Minister of Labour, Senator Chris Ngige, has revealed that his removal from office in 2006 was due to his refusal to appoint political heavyweight Chris Uba as deputy governor.

In an interview in Abuja, Ngige said, “I know those who were removing me. They showed their hands. They gave me conditions, and I said I won’t do them.” He recalled that late Senator Ibrahim Mantu conveyed the demand, and when he met with the main powerbrokers, he was told appointing Uba as his deputy was the key condition.

Ngige rejected the offer, citing concerns for his safety and public backlash: “If I made him deputy governor, he would have immunity and could walk into my office and shoot me. If he shot me, nothing would happen… The people of Anambra would revolt against me.”

He recounted how political thugs razed state institutions, yet he stood firm, saying, “You can take my seat. No problem. God is in charge.” A devout Catholic, Ngige said he accepted the outcome as divine will: “I’m happy with all that transpired because that is how God willed it.”

Ngige also addressed his use of “bad boys” for community policing during his tenure, explaining it was a deliberate strategy to curb insecurity. He said communities were asked to identify troublemakers and potential vigilantes. “We gave employment to all of them… and said, ‘Any false movement, you are dead, but you owe us a duty to show us other bad boys.’”

He emphasized that unlike many governors who misuse security votes, he used them effectively to empower communities, noting: “That is what security fund is all about. But many governors don’t spend security votes. It’s pocket money for them, it’s money for buying property.”