Why I Denied Amaechi 2007 Ticket..Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that he should be held responsible for the travails of the Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, before and after the 2007 governorship election.

Obasanjo explained that rather than blame Dr. Peter Odili, who was Amaechi’s predecessor, the state governor should realise that he (Obasanjo) was fully in charge and responsible for his (Amaechi) woes.

It will be recalled that Obasanjo surprisingly denied Amaechi the PDP governorship ticket during the build up to the 2007 general election in Rivers State, declaring the Ikwerre-born politician’s case as having a K-leg.

K-leg is an euphemism used by Obasanjo in 2007 to describe the reason why he did not give Amaechi the governorship ticket.

The matter was later resolved by the Supreme Court, which declared Amaechi the governor of Rivers State.

Speaking on Monday in Eleme Local Government Area while inaugurating some projects executed by the Amaechi administration, the former President added that he had no apologies for taking such a decision seven years ago.

“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,” Obasanjo said.

On Amaechi’s governorship ambition that was declared to have a K-leg, the former President argued that since the Supreme Court had delivered its verdict in favour of Amaechi, the issue of K-leg had been resolved.

Recalling that at a time, he was one of those that felt the Supreme Court’s verdict was awkward, Obasanjo said those who were not satisfied with the ruling should wait for the judgment of the ‘Supreme Being.’

“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, however, advised public office holders against using their time to cover the achievements of their predecessors, adding that those in power should endeavour to correct the errors made in the past by their predecessors.

He praised Amaechi for his efforts towards developing the state through the execution of infrastructural projects, 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.”

Earlier, Amaechi said that he brought the former President to Port Harcourt to showcase what he had achieved in the past seven years. He described Obasanjo as a good leader.

Amaechi pointed out that he got the idea of the model school from Achimota in Ghana while he was in exile in the West African country.

“Each of the schools has a capacity of 1,050 students and two persons per hostel room, equipped with such gadgets as computer and other facilities,” he said.

Projects commissioned by the former President on Monday are Chief G.U. Ake Road, Ken Saro-Wiwa Road, Elekahia-Rumuamasi Road, Okporo Road, Model Primary Health Centre, Akpajo, Songhai Farm, Afam Power Station and Ambassador Nne Kurubo Model Secondary School.

Meanwhile, Obasanjo has told Amaechi to ignore his detractors and concentrate on delivering the dividends of democracy to indigenes of the state.

Obasanjo said this at a gala organised in his honour in Port Harcourt after he inaugurated some projects on Monday.

The former President said that he was not in the state for political purpose but to see the developmental strides of the governor.

He 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.”