Former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo has said
that he was responsible for the travails of the Rivers State Governor, Mr.
Rotimi Amaechi, before and after the 2007 governorship election.
Speaking on Monday in Eleme Local Government Area, River
State, the former President explained that rather than blame Dr. Peter Odili,
who was Amaechi’s predecessor, Amechi 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, claiming it has K-leg.
The K-leg which was
later straighten by the Supreme Court,
which declared Amaechi the governor of Rivers State.
“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.
Obasanjo said
those who were not satisfied with the ruling should wait for the judgement 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?”
Obasanjo praised Amaechi 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.
He also 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.
Meanwhile, Obasanjo said that he was not in the state for
political purpose but to see the developmental strides of the governor.
“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.’ He said.
“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.” Said Obasanjo.
