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| Obasanjo,stopped Amaechi becoming Governor |
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| Rotimi Amaechi stopped by Obj in 2007 |
Amaechi that he was responsible for all the travails he (Amaechi) went through before and after the 2007 governorship election.
Obasanjo also told him not to blame his (Amaechi’s) predecessor, Dr. Peter Odili for the travails, rather he should blame him(Obasanjo) because was fully in charge and responsible for his (Amaechi) woes. He also said he had no apologies for the decision he made at the time.
Naijaobserver recalls that Obasanjo denied Amaechi the PDP governorship ticket
during the build up to the 2007 general election in Rivers State, saying Amaechi’s case was haing a k-Leg, Amaechi was later declared Governor of Rivers State by the Supreme Court.
during the build up to the 2007 general election in Rivers State, saying Amaechi’s case was haing a k-Leg, Amaechi was later declared Governor of Rivers State by the Supreme Court.
Obasanjo made this known while inaugurating some projects executed by the Amaechi administration in Eleme Local Government Area of the state.
The former President said “I want to acknowledge your courage. I phoned the governor; I hope he will remember and I said, ‘Governor Amaechi, don’t take anything against your predecessor because whatever decision was taken about you, hold me responsible, not your predecessor because I was the one fully in charge.
“So, if anything has been done because I took a decision that I believe is right, that I believe I should take when I took it, I have no apologies. This is because I don’t take decisions lightly.
“When I have to take decisions, some that I find very important, I fast and pray before I take them. I ask for God’s guidance and direction.”
On the issue of denying Amaechi the governorship because his case had a K-Leg, Obasanjo said since the Supreme court has delivered judgement in favor of Amaechi, the case has been resolved.
He said “The governor talked about K-leg. I believe that as a leader, when I have something that requires action, that action must be taken, otherwise I am not a worthy leader.
“A report came about him, which indicated K-leg, and I said yes, there was a K-leg and as a result of the K-leg, what was could not continue to be what it was. Rotimi (Amaechi) did what is required in a democratic dispensation; he went to court to straighten the K-leg.
“I am one of those who when he (Amaechi) got the judgment or the verdict found it awkward. I did not voice it out publicly, but I found it awkward. Awkward in the sense that how can a man who has not contested an election, a man who has not been voted for be declared the governor?
“But I mused about it and people went to a higher court. I think he (Amaechi) took it to the Supreme Court and in the Supreme Court, he won. As far as I am concerned, that is the end of the K-leg.
“If anybody is not satisfied after that, he has to wait for the judgement of the Supreme Being up there. So, the K-leg has been straightened; not only that, after his first term, he (Amaechi) contested and won with a landslide. Then what K-leg are you talking about again?”
He also told Amaechi not to worry about those who are trying to bring him down, saying he should focus on delivering dividends of democracy to those who voted for him. The former President said “What we have seen in the rural areas and area of infrastructure is worth believing and on the basis of this, I will say that you should not worry about what people who do not like you as much as you would want them to.
“You should worry about your conscience, your God and those who voted for you. If your conscience tells you that you are doing the right thing, keep doing it.”
On a final note, he praised Amaechi for his efforts towards developing the state, saying “I feel proud that by association, I am part of the work you are doing in the area of infrastructural development, particularly education and road transportation infrastructure.”
Amaechi while speaking, described Obasanjo as a good leader, saying he brought him down to the state to showcase what he had achieved in the past seven years.
source of Obasanjo stopped amaechi being govenor
source of Obasanjo stopped amaechi being govenor