The Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, has faulted the invitation of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to the state by Governor Rotimi Amaechi to inaugurate projects executed by the Amaechi administration.
The state PDP described the former President’s invitation to the state for the inauguration as a display of hypocrisy and pretence in order to give the impression that both of them (Obasanjo and Amaechi) had resolved their resentment for each other.
The party in a statement signed by the special adviser to its state chairman, Jerry Needam, recalled that Obasanjo, in 2006, castigated the people of the state for wishing to have somebody like Amaechi as governor.
It also recalled that the former President instigated criminal investigation against Amaechi, who was then the Speaker of the State House of Assembly and denied him the PDP governorship flag.
According to the statement, “It is also on record that upon assumption of office much later, same Amaechi in retaliation on Obasanjo cancelled the Airforce Base Link Road named after Obasanjo by ex-Gov Peter Odili.
“Ironically, the same Obasanjo link Road is one of the projects the former President is billed to commission in addition to some schools and roads completed by Dr. Peter Odili, some of which he, Obasanjo had between 2001 and 2006 formally commissioned.”
But the Special Assistant to the State Interim Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chukwuemeka Eze, described Obasanjo as a leader with pedigree and should not be insulted by the PDP in the state.
Eze also described the planned visit of the former President as historical, adding that the people of the state will come out enmasse to welcome him.
He said, “For the PDP to say that former President Obasanjo was coming to Rivers State to commission schools and roads built by former Governor Peter Odili shows that they are misguided in their thoughts.
“Who in this world would say he does not know that Governor Amaechi built over 350 primary and secondary schools? But the truth is that Obasanjo is coming to Rivers State to see and commission what some blind leaders refused to see.
“That Obansanjo said Amaechi’s governorship ambition had K-leg; that was seven years ago and the issue must have been rectified. Why is the PDP still dwelling on the issue?”
Obasanjo is expected in Rivers on February 17.