How Ngige ‘Begged’ Tinubu For Armored Car In 2004

Dr Chris Ngige’s former chief press secretary, Chuks Akunna, has claimed that the former Anambra State governor begged the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, for an armoured car in 2004.

In a post on Twitter, Akkuna revealed that the incident happened when Ngige, now minister of labour and employment, visited Bola Tinubu in Lagos.

The former CPS said it was the car gift that prompted Ngige to later acquire another armoured vehicle.

“In ’04, visiting Asiwaju Tinubu in Lagos, my boss Gov Ngige spotted this car. “Bola, pls dash me. I want to use it in Abuja”. “Ah ah! Ngige, this is old nah”, replied Asiwaju. “I don’t mind. Anambra is poor. I’ll manage it”. Surprised to hear Onwa deriding his benefactor,” he tweeted.

“Did you know how the G-wagon came about? The Lagos trip happened after we literally begged him to buy it. The beast Tinubu gifted him was moved to Abuja. That was Ngige’s “Abuja vehicle” until the CoA removed him in March ’06.

“His official car was a Peugeot 406. After the March 3, ’04, attack on Gov Akume’s convoy, in which an ex-Nig Airways MD Andrew Agom, was killed, my boss agreed to buy the armoured G-Class. It was after the purchase he fell in love with armoured cars. Jagaban’s gift was armoured.”

On Tuesday, while appearing before house of representatives ad hoc committee investigating the suspension of the management of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Ngige ridiculed a member of the House of Representatives, James Faleke.

The former Governor described Faleke as “a small boy” and claimed he was “Tinubu’s mate”.

Ngige while speaking before the house said, “I am at least seven years older than you. I’m sure.”

“I am the same age as your mentor in Lagos, Asiwaju (Bola Ahmed Tinubu). And I was Governor with him at the same time. He was a Senator, I was a Senator.”

“I am a two-time Minister, he is a two-time Minister.”

Faleke reacted: “But you won these elections very well?”

Ngige, however, fired back: “No problem about that. Just like you won your own in Kogi State very well and you are now both the Governor and Deputy Governor.”

“You are just a small boy in Lagos. Look at this Mushin boy, talking to a Victoria Island boy.”