The former Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Ameachi
*Says Wike is afraid of him
Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja
The former Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Ameachi has said that his
conscience did not allow him to join those who may have soiled their
hands in the N1.9 trillion oil subsidy scam allegedly committed during
the President Goodluck Jonathan administration.
Speaking during a Sunday night dinner held in honour by some of his fellow party men in the All Progressives Congress (APC), Amaechi said the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) led government in Rivers state is jittery of his being considered for political appointment under president Muhammadu Buhari's administration.
Amaechi who served as the Director General of the Buhari campaign
organisation in the recently held general election said contrary to the
notion held in certain quarters, he is not one disposed to the pursuit
of self aggrandisement to the detriment of the wellbeing of the people
of Rivers state.
"When the trouble between me and the former president started, as
chairman of governors forum, the oil subsidy was N300 billion under
president Obasanjo, it remained the same under Yaradua, six months of
president Goodluck Jonathan, the oil subsidy rose to N1.9 trillion, is
it that the country now doubled it population or bought more machines or
started manufacturing? "As chairman of Governors forum, I was in a
position to get my own share of the N1.9 trillion but I chose the part
of honesty and truth, you can not catch me being dishonest," he said.
Speaking further about his experiences as the chairman of the Nigeria
Governors Forum, Amaechi said once disagreed with former President
Jonathan over the propriety of the funds allocated for the petroleum
subsidy claims.
"There was a time I walked into a meeting with the president (Goodluck Jonathan) and in the meeting, the argument was that they want more money for oil subsidy, as the chairman of governors forum I stood my ground and told the president I was not going to support that.
"He asked me why and I explained that we are already in court with you on the issue of fuel subsidy, the president abused the hell out of my life. I have huge respect for the president, but the only thing that made me disagree with him was on the issue of the management of the country’s treasury.
"There was a time I walked into a meeting with the president (Goodluck Jonathan) and in the meeting, the argument was that they want more money for oil subsidy, as the chairman of governors forum I stood my ground and told the president I was not going to support that.
"He asked me why and I explained that we are already in court with you on the issue of fuel subsidy, the president abused the hell out of my life. I have huge respect for the president, but the only thing that made me disagree with him was on the issue of the management of the country’s treasury.
"I told the president then that those who are accusing me of being anti
south south to come out and tell the world the development that has
happened to the south south under his presidency. The president
confirmed it himself during the campaign that he has done nothing, he
said "I know I've done nothing but if you vote for me I'll do.." so I
call him I'll do president."
He said his quarrel with ex- president Jonathan should not be misconstrued to mean that he was antagonistic to the progress of the South -South geo political zone, adding that his axe with President Jonathan began after he ensured that Rivers state income from federal allocation was cut down to N6 billion as against as against N20 billion that was due to the state.
He said his quarrel with ex- president Jonathan should not be misconstrued to mean that he was antagonistic to the progress of the South -South geo political zone, adding that his axe with President Jonathan began after he ensured that Rivers state income from federal allocation was cut down to N6 billion as against as against N20 billion that was due to the state.
"Some people will say I betrayed the south south, I have no word for
betrayal, let not under any circumstance tell people yes when your yes
is no. May God not give the ambition the current governor of Rivers
State has, he can sell anybody. God should rather put me to death than
to have an ambition to sell this country."
Ameachi challenged the people's of Rivers State to stand up and defend him by telling the world the "truth" he stood for. He said it would be a too much to ascribe the party's victory to him but that the victory of APC was engineered by God.
"The current governor of Rivers State and PDP are afraid of me getting appointment at the national level, because that will determine the politics of Rivers State. They know that the current president abhors corruption and the only way to stop me from getting appointment is to paint that picture of corruption.
"I'm not angry with the people who have come out to blackmail me, my anger is with Rivers people who know I don't like money and I expect them to get up and defend me that this is not Ameachi's character, that's my anger. The Rivers people should stand up and tell this man to stop painting Ameachi black," he said.
"I heard they (PDP) want to address a press conference to tell the president not to give me appointment that I'm corrupt but they don't know that appointment is not everything, if God is happy with me, I'm happy with my life.
Ameachi said his sin against many people in the south south and the former president was supporting a muslim candidate from the north saying that "the stealing the current president is fighting today cut across the whole nation .
"Our offence was supporting a Muslim, not only that, our offence was supporting a northerner. What they failed to realise is that money does not know ethnic group, the stealing the current president is fighting cut across the whole nation, it is not the south south people that stole the money, every part of the country stole that money but it was under the supervision of a south south president and we are watching.
Ameachi challenged the people's of Rivers State to stand up and defend him by telling the world the "truth" he stood for. He said it would be a too much to ascribe the party's victory to him but that the victory of APC was engineered by God.
"The current governor of Rivers State and PDP are afraid of me getting appointment at the national level, because that will determine the politics of Rivers State. They know that the current president abhors corruption and the only way to stop me from getting appointment is to paint that picture of corruption.
"I'm not angry with the people who have come out to blackmail me, my anger is with Rivers people who know I don't like money and I expect them to get up and defend me that this is not Ameachi's character, that's my anger. The Rivers people should stand up and tell this man to stop painting Ameachi black," he said.
"I heard they (PDP) want to address a press conference to tell the president not to give me appointment that I'm corrupt but they don't know that appointment is not everything, if God is happy with me, I'm happy with my life.
Ameachi said his sin against many people in the south south and the former president was supporting a muslim candidate from the north saying that "the stealing the current president is fighting today cut across the whole nation .
"Our offence was supporting a Muslim, not only that, our offence was supporting a northerner. What they failed to realise is that money does not know ethnic group, the stealing the current president is fighting cut across the whole nation, it is not the south south people that stole the money, every part of the country stole that money but it was under the supervision of a south south president and we are watching.
The Vice President Osinbajo who was special guest at the dinner said
there one thing no one can deny about Amaechi and that is his
tremendous courage.
"Ameachi is also a man of big ideas and very insightful, he understands how to live long in the hearts of men. His education policies in Rivers State and all of those children he gave real hope and opportunity will always that he will be remembered long after he left this earth," he said.
In his remark, the APC National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun gave
Amaechi credit for bringing in fire and vibrancy into the party. He said
having tested power before, Amaechi brought passion and energy into the
APC and to a great extent made the party's victory possible."Ameachi is also a man of big ideas and very insightful, he understands how to live long in the hearts of men. His education policies in Rivers State and all of those children he gave real hope and opportunity will always that he will be remembered long after he left this earth," he said.
The wife of the President Aisha Buhari described Amaechi as perhaps one of the most courageous politician that has come out of the South-south zone
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