At the presentation of the book, ‘Dynamics of Change: The Amaechi Years’ yesterday in Lagos, Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi narrated how he was a marked out following a secret order from the federal government to security agencies to arrest him if the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won the presidential election.
The presentation which had in attendance eminent personalities who contributed immensely to the success of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the just concluded general elections, including captains of industries, x-rayed the eight years of Amaechi as governor of Rivers State from 2007 to 2015, his policies, speeches and motives behind his actions.
The event was chaired by Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte, retired justice of the Supreme Court; Professor Wole Soyinka who gave a short remark; Bishop Mathew Hassan-Kukah, who reviewed the book which was edited by Dr Chidi Amuta and Dr Yemi Ogunbiyi. Mr. Tonye Cole, CEO of Sahara Group, made the public presentation.
In attendance was governor-elect of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai; Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Herbert Wigwe, CEO, Access Bank; Governor of Zamfara State, Abdula Azeez Yari; Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, national chairman, APC; Chief Bisi Akande, former acting chairman, APC; Dr Segun Oni, deputy national chairman, south, APC; Dr Kayode Fayemi, former governor of Ekiti State.
Others are Senator Daisy Danjuma; Senator Magnus Abe; chief Dakuku Peterside, APC governorship candidate, Rivers State; Dr Doyin Abiola; Mr Jim Ovia, chairman, Zenith Bank; Sam Amuka; Governor Ibikunle Amosu of Ogun State, etc.
Amaechi gave thanks to God for the change that took place at the elections, saying he had been a marked man for his vehement opposition to injustice in the country.
According to him, the federal government had hunted him and had been determined to cage him, withdrawing his diplomatic passport and refusing to re-issue him an ordinary international passport.
“I was so determined that there would be change because if there was no change, I would be finished. For me, it was a matter of life and death. The federal government sent a signal that if they won,nobody should allow me to leave Nigeria. Today, I have been given back my diplomatic passport two weeks to the end of the government. I lost my green passport in Ghana sometime ago. Now, they have re-issued me a new one.”
The Rivers governor stated that he saw the trouble ahead of him.
“I knew that I was going to be in trouble. I told Asiwaju Bola Tinubu that what was important was that he should lead in the history of first civilian coup in Nigeria. I am happy that he was part of this revolution.”
He said when people began to wonder whether APC could organise an elective primary or not, “I went to Asiwaju and told him if we don’t do convention, we were finished and he led us to a convention.”
He traced the genesis of his rift with the presidency to the crisis that ensured over the River State government’s plan to develop the Okirika waterfront from its slum position to a habitable place which led to a quarrel with the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, which later spilled over to the elections of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF).
He said President Goodluck Jonathan was so determined that he should not be re-elected, which gave rise to the 16 votes being greater than 19 votes. Other rifts included the snatching of Rivers State oil wells up to Abonema by the federal government and handing them over to Bayelsa State.
…16 Cannot Be Greater Than 19 – Soyinka
Prof Soyinka who delivered a short remark at the event said during the crisis between Amaechi and the presidency, “Somebody sent me a message from Aso Rock to tell Amaechi that he is playing with fire, his playing with giants and cockatoos. I never delivered that message. Instead, I decided to study Amaechi more closely.”
The first Africa Nobel laureate for literature who came to the event with his wife, Mrs Folake Soyinka, said one thing he admired about Governor Amaechi was his courage.
“It is as elementary as that: courage of conviction. When16 votes was said to be greater than 19 valid votes, then something was wrong. He stood up in that annoyance and said let us have a change of orientation.”
Soyinka noted that the political atmosphere today, whether it is called change, hope, cautious hope, etc, was brought about by two individuals who made the change possible – Rotimi Amaechi, a younger politician, and Bola Tinubu, the architect of common sense revolution.
Amaechi, a General In Commonsense Revolution – Tinubu
National leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu described Governor Amaechi as a good example of commonsense revolution.
Tinubu said that, in the course of the 2015 general elections, he was very emphatic that it was a common sense revolution, adding that the results of the elections have shown that Nigerians desired change.
“We are here today because of the one of the generals of the commonsense revolution is bold to share his experiences. The APC agenda is anchored on three Rs: Reform, Relief and Recovery.
“It is a great honor for me and all of us determined to save the ship of the nation. Today is a great honour for me to present a book on one of the generals of commonsense revolution”, he said while launching the book.
On his part, Zamfara State Governor Abdul Yari Azeez said Amaechi led 22 governors of the APC to bring about change in Nigeria.
According to him, Amaechi’s leadership of Nigerian Governor’s Forum (NGF) and his demand for explanation of the how the ministers of Finance and Petroleum were managing the economy and petroleum proceeds led to the split of the NGF.
“We have learnt a lot from him. He is courageous; he has foresight and he can see something that is 1,000 miles ahead,” Governor Yari said.
On his part, Senator Olorunimbe Mamora, former speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, said, “If Malam Nasir el-Rufai is referred to as the ‘Accidental Civil Servant,’Amaechi should be referred to as the ‘Unusual Governor.’