Former President Obasanjo has finally broken the silence on his issues with then Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Governor Rotimi Amaechi as he contested for the 2007 elections.
Obasanjo said Amaechi’s predecessor, Governor Peter Odili should not be blamed for the hiccups Amaechi faced as he strove to claim the governorship of the state.
Amaechi had been denied the PDP Governorship ticket after then Governor Odili instigated allegations of financial misappropriation against the then Speaker. Obasanjo then declared Amaechi had a “k-leg”.
Speaking on the incident yesterday, Obasanjo said, “I want to acknowledge your courage. I phoned the governor; I hope he will remember and I said, ‘Governor Amaechi, don’t take anything against your predecessor because whatever decision was taken about you, hold me responsible, not your predecessor because I was the one fully in charge.
“So, if anything has been done because I took a decision that I believe is right, that I believe I should take when I took it, I have no
apologies. This is because I don’t take decisions lightly.
“When I have to take decisions, some that I find very important, I fast and pray before I take them. I ask for God’s guidance and
direction,” Obasanjo said.
“The governor talked about K-leg . I believe that as a leader, when I have something that requires action, that action must be taken,
otherwise I am not a worthy leader.
“A report came about him, which indicated K-leg , and I said yes, there was a K-leg and as a result of the K-leg , what was could not
continue to be what it was. Rotimi (Amaechi) did what is required in a democratic dispensation; he went to court to straighten
the K-leg .
“I am one of those who when he (Amaechi) got the judgment or the verdict found it awkward. I did not voice it out publicly, but I found it awkward. Awkward in the sense that how can a man who has not contested an election, a man who has not been voted for be declared the governor?
“But I mused about it and people went to a higher court. I think he (Amaechi) took it to the Supreme Court and in the Supreme Court, he won. As far as I am concerned, that is the end of the K-leg .
“If anybody is not satisfied after that, he has to wait for the judgement of the Supreme Being up there. So, the K-leg has been
straightened; not only that, after his first term, he (Amaechi) contested and won with a landslide. Then what K-leg are you talking
about again?”