Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has said that he stayed away from the Nigeria’s centenary in Abuja in order to get even with President Goodluck Jonathan whom he said failed to honour the invitation to 100 years anniversary of Port Harcourt last year.
The governor explained that even when prominent indigenes of the state visited the President in Abuja and invited him to the 2013 event in Port Harcourt, he refused to be at the occasion.
Amaechi, who spoke at a book presentation to mark the 70th birthday of the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Nimi Briggs, on Saturday, explained that he had expected Jonathan to honour the invitation from the state.
He said, “When they ask me why I did not attend the celebration, I said five prominent Rivers men left here to go and invite the President. When they approached me that they wanted to go and invite the President, I said, ‘don’t bother your head, the President won’t come.’
“They said ‘no, not after he had seen us.’ They (Rivers indigenes) are seated hear, Justice Karibi Whyte, Prof Tekena Tamuno, Prof E.J. Alagwa, Chief Agbaru and Prof. Nimi Briggs; and they went. They were very well received by our President and they were very impressed.
“They came back to my house that day in Abuja and they told me that they met with the President and I was excited. Everybody in the Federal Government told me the President would come (for the Port Harcourt centenary). The President did not come.
“So, I told them that I would not go to (Nigeria’s) centenary because Port Harcourt turned 100 and the President refused to come even though he grew up here. I said I would not go to Nigeria’s Centenary in response to his (Jonathan) refusal to come for Port Harcourt Centenary.
“I did that not because I wanted to disrespect the President. I respect him for his age and his achievement in the society. I thought that the Federal Government should have respected and honoured that invitation,” Amaechi said.
On the political crisis in the state, the governor said the only way the problem could come to an end was for the state to benefit from Federal Government projects.
He acknowledged the presence of some elders in the state that could make him move from the All Progressives Congress back to the Peoples Democratic Party, but added that such elders had not been convinced on the need for him to leave the APC.
He said, “They asked me, how would you end this crisis? I say with me, it will be difficult to end because I stand forward to look at Rivers State. I said the only way to end it is to change the face of Rivers State. If Rivers people get better things, I will change.
“Then I put a caveat; I said there are some old men here who can make me move from APC to PDP because they will never tell me to move to PDP if they are not convinced that it is the right thing to do. This means you can’t influence them with anything rather than what is right for Rivers State and Nigeria.
“They are here; they know themselves and they have been part of the struggle in a very quiet manner and they support me. My prayer is that God will continue to bless all of you.” Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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I am not sure you know what you when to achieve. Emotions should not be what drives your policy. The few that followed you to APC will be concerned now
ReplyDeleteWhat does this man called Amaechi thinks he is?. He beats my imagination whenever I hear or read him speaks like this!. He equates himself or even regards himself more powerful and important than the President of the federal republic of Nigeria, a whole country!. He may even equate himself with GOD!. You are living in a fool's paradise. Your absence was not even noticed anywhere and your presence would not have added any value to the celebration. Five prominent Elders went to invite the president but you as the chief executive officer of the state did not find it necessary to do so, because of your APC affilation, and you expect the president to come?. If you were the president, you would not only stop coming, you would have also stopped the celebration, the ALL POWERFUL AMAECHI I KNOW!. If you dont retrace your step, you would soon find your waterloo.
ReplyDeleteAmechi is comedian
ReplyDeleteAmaechi my man,may God continue to enrich you in wisdom.
ReplyDeleteCarry go joor.
Your absence made no difference. Who cares if you attended or not. Vindictiveness has been your bane...Your vindictive attitude will also be the catalyst that will hasten your destruction.
ReplyDeleteYour absence no impact on the centenary celebration
ReplyDeleteThat is a fool talking. So PH is more than Nigeria to you. Small mind and personality problem, ego power hungry is ur problem.
ReplyDeleteHmmmmm..., Amechi..., The whole world is watching & we are watching too. Find time to always look @ your back!
ReplyDeleteOga Amaechi, so u no go? na waa ooo, u just de tell us now, NIGERIA no no say u no come ooo.
ReplyDeleteThey talk like ladies and kids in their early 20s. Was it the selected elders that asked you to rebel to APC? Just tell us you regret running to APC and that your want your "elders" to pretend to beg you to return to PDP.
ReplyDeleteTalk sense like a Governor of RIVERS STAT !!!.
For both centenaries, both went well all the same with or without GEJ or Rotimi. But did the governor sent a formal invitation to the president, or he just asked his uncles to tell GEJ about the event; likewise was the governor given any formal invitation to Nigeria? In any case, Rotimi sounded like us those days in primary school; I won't visit John's house because John did not visit my compound the last time I asked him to, hmm leadership1
HE IS USING STYLE TO STAGE COME BACK TO PDP....................HE THINKS WE ARE 'MUMU'..............
DeleteSO, ELDERS SHOULD BEG HIM TO RETURN AND NOT GEJ.............AM LAUGHING.
AMAECHI IS TALKING LIKE A KID AND HE THOUGHT HE IS TALKING TO KIDS AS WELL.
NOBODY PURSUED U FROM PDP...........IF U WANNA COME BACK..COMEBACK,BUT YOUR PLACE IS ALREADY AT THE BACK, U MUST TAKE QUEUE.
IS LIKE, APC IS SMELLING SORE TO HIM NOW.........HE IS PERCEIVING DOOM! SO, HE WANTS TO RUN BACK.....
As you no attend, the event no hold?
ReplyDeletewe can all see how some people were brought up by their parents.
All this your nonsense behavior, Time will tell.
Nobody notice if you came or not until U make it public. Arrogant Governor, and U are claiming U are a Christian. Anyway, U can hide ur real intensity for love. We have see who U are. I think I should be pity ur wife for your uncultured utterance and stubbornness. if U can be behavior like this in the public. what about ur home.
ReplyDeletewhether you came or you did not, your presence did not matter much. The centenary was well celebrated. If you are a Christian as you claim, try to show forgiveness. Know that Amaechi as a person was not invited to Goodluck's party but The Office of Rivers state Governor was invited to honour Nigerian's centenary celebration by FGN.
ReplyDeleteYou politicians should learn to draw a line between personal interest and national interest.
Dis man is deceiving himself,0nitsha main market does not know dat one man did not open his shop.
ReplyDeleteAmeachi, your eye don clear now A bi. No be Kwankwaso and Tinubu dey deceive you.By the time they use you to destroy your state finish dey will go back to their states Abi.So be wise Mr,Rotimi
ReplyDeleteGov. Ameachi, pls nobody noticed ur absence at d event. Stop seeking for notice, ur office can never be equated to that of d president. Stop deceiving urself.
ReplyDeleteWhy all these grievances? you shunned him, does it change anything in Nigeria? your shunning him is for your political reason not for Nigeria sake, swallow your word and let Nigerians' hear word! abeg jo, no bi that wan we dey talk na how Nigeria go better
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteAmaechi, you said people went to invite the president and not you inviting him officially as the president. You also said you tried to dissuade them from going to invite him, but they went ahead, yet he did not show. I know you have no respect for the president of the federal Republic of Nigeria, hence you open your useless mouth to utter rubbish every now and then. I have a word for you: it was the liitle nza, after been over-fed challenged its god to a duel.
Must this people talk?(politicians) must they announced their presence even when we (Nigerians) try to ignore them? Mr governor,Please we have more on our plate than this your hide and seek game with the president,so you ate irrelevant for now.
ReplyDeleteGEJ, please improve power situation in this country for us now. Alot of Nigerians are dying because of this. Stopped exchanging ideas with educated illiterate like ameachi. We need capital projects that can move the country forward now not tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteHouse help don be governor and what do you expect from people like this when their parent nor fit send go secodary school
ReplyDeleteAmaechi has taken snuff and guff again,hw can a governr reason like a kid. Do you really passd through the university system ? Presido Jona ,we respect u,u never made any comment against mumu amaechi. Silence is de best answer to fool, fans pls pardon me
ReplyDeleteIf u people are Amaechi, u will more than this. Do as ur spirit Amaechi
ReplyDeleteAmechi shame...
ReplyDeleteHis Excellency, its a pity dat u did not go, even if u go no body would have noticed u. Ur presence does not matter in Nigeria anymore. Save urself d emberrasment.
ReplyDeleteHis Excellency, its a pity dat u did not go, even if u go no body would have noticed u. Ur presence does not matter in Nigeria anymore. Save urself d emberrasment.
ReplyDeleteamaechhhhiiiiiiii i stil dey lauch
ReplyDeleteAmaechi, is a shame you have talked yourself into irrelevance with your uncharitable and arrogant utterances.
ReplyDeleteYou have also proven to Nigerians that you were poorly brought up by your parents. Governors like you are national disaster.