Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has revealed that he was warned when he took the decision to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) that the Yoruba and Hausa politicians in the party would only use and dump him after winning the presidential election.
He disclosed this during the official presentation of his book titled, Dynamics of Change: The Amaechi Years which took place at the Civic Centre, Lagos, Wednesday.
The book, edited by Dr Chidi Amuta and Dr Yemi Ogunbiyi, X-rays the eight years of his administration as governor of Rivers State from 2007 to 2015, his policies, speeches and the motives behind his actions.
At a well attended event which had dignitaries from all walks of life including top politicians and captains of industry, Governor Amaechi narrated how he was prevailed upon to jettison the idea of joining the APC but he refused ‘due to the injustice in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).’
“I was told that Yoruba, Hausa would disappoint me. But today, I have not been disappointed. They have not done that so far,” the governor said.
Amaechi also rejected the perception of some people of him being ‘stubborn’ insisting that he is only ‘principled.’
Corroborating Governor Amaechi’s view on his principled nature, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), of the Sahara Group, Mr. Tonye Cole, described Amaechi as ‘a man who is loyal, truthful, courageous and highly principled.’
In addition, Cole said: “Amaechi’s political career is very bright. He is going to the national level to continue the good work. Many people misunderstood him but I want to believe that he is a principled politician and not a stubborn one.
“There is a difference between being principled and stubborn. People should try to understand him better.”
Also speaking with Global Patriot Newspaper at the event, former Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Senator Olorunimbe Mamora, said: “Governor Amaechi is a very simple man, very fearless, down to earth and a straightforward personality. And he has been able to demonstrate this in all his years so far in office both as speaker and governor of Rivers State.”
“His reaching out to people, the love and affection he has been able to generate from people is what is responsible for his being celebrated and I can only wish him many more years of success in his political career.”
The well attended event had Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte (retired), former Justice of the Supreme Court as chairman and Professor Wole Soyinka as co-chairman. Bishop Mathew Hassan-Kukah, reviewed the book while Mr. Tonye Cole, did the public presentation of the book.
Other dignitaries in attendance were National leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, governor-elect of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai; Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Akinwunmi Ambode, governor-elect of Lagos State, 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 and Dr Kayode Fayemi, former governor of Ekiti State.
Others were 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, Publisher of Vanguard Newspapers, Governor Ibikunle Amosu nof Ogun State and many others.
