The Rivers State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused former President Obasanjo of being behind the Rivers crisis by withdrawing Amaechi’s candidature in the 2007 elections.
The party said in a statement that Obasanjo ushered in the genesis of an seven year crisis by denying Amaechi his ticket in 2006 after accusing the then Rivers State House of Assembly Speaker of corruption.
“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”.
“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.
Obasanjo said in 2006 that Amaechi had “K-leg” in reference to financial improprieties against him in order to usurp his mandate and deliver it to Sir Celestine Omehia.
Omehia won the election the following year (2007) but had his mandate revoked by the judiciary and restored to Amaechi whom the court ruled was PDP’s rightful candidate.
Special Adviser on Media to Rivers PDP Chairman, Jerry Needam said Obasanjo had now been compromised by Governor Amaechi to swallow his words and come and commission projects achieved by the same man he earlier accused of corruption.
The party chapter said Obasanjo should make public the outcomes of the corruption investigation against Amaechi or face the judgment of the people of Rivers state.
“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,” it said.
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