Obasanjo Should Clarify Corruption Allegations Against Amaechi, Says PDP

Today’s visit by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to Rivers State offers him the perfect opportunity to properly explain his past accusation of financial improprieties against Governor Chibuike Amaechi, the Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said.

According to the party, the ‘K-leg saga’ championed by Obasanjo in 2006 to strip Amaechi of the PDP governorship ticket remains the genesis of the current political crisis in Rivers State; and as such, people of the state deserve to know the outcome of those charges and investigations, plus why the former president suddenly swallowed his words to honour the invitation of a man he so vilified and caused the anti-graft agencies to pursue on account of corruption.

“Failure to oblige this request, the people of Rivers State will be left with no other option than to conclude that Obasanjo has either compromised his acclaimed hard stance against corruption in high places or is playing politics with the entire Rivers people notwithstanding the after effects”, Special Adviser on Media to Rivers PDP Chairman, Jerry Needam said.

“The PDP strongly believes that it was Obasanjo’s stiff opposition to Chibuike Amaechi against the will of the party leadership and faithful in the state concomitant to the party primaries on December 6, 2006 that is still haunting the state till date”.

PDP insisted that that issues bordering on corruption and mismanagement of state resources are such serious matters that cannot be wished away by political bravado associated with project-commissioning, let alone by Amaechi’s direct accuser, Obasanjo.

“Unless the issue of K-leg is explained to the people, neither Obasanjo nor Amaechi will be taken serious by Rivers people”, the party added.

Amaechi was Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly in 2007 when he clinched the governorship ticket of PDP at the primaries, only to have his ticket infamously reversed by then President Obasanjo. 

“Amaechi’s candidature get k-leg”, the former president had announced to a crowd at the party’s flag off campaign in the South-South back then, before assuring that the party would find a credible replacement, who would later become Sir Celestina Omehia.

Omehia was sworn-in as Governor on 29th May 2007 following PDP’s declaration as winner of the governorship election. But he lasted only six months in office, as the Supreme Corrupt restored Amaechi in October 2007, ruling that the former Assembly speaker was the legitimate candidate of the party at the election.