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Amaechi reveals reasons for supporting Buhari over Jonathan in 2015
By Emmanuel Awosika
Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has revealed his reason for supporting Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 Presidential election over former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Amaechi, who addressed a group of defectors from the People Democratic Party in Rivers State, said he chose to support Buhari because he is not tribalistic, adding that he had already promised Buhari his allegiance.
He revealed that Jonathan offered him various favours to prevent him from joining the opposition All Progressives Congress, all of which he turned down.
The defectors who were defecting from the PDP to APC include Chief Alabo Michael West, Dr. John Bazia, Chima Obinna, Chief Salvation Ezengwogwo, and some others.
He also disclosed that the former President quarreled with him over his defection to the APC, but said God’s support allowed him triumph.
He said: “Next year, we are starting prayer session. You know, when Goodluck fought us, he was not fighting me, he was fighting God, and I knew he would fail.
“Tell them, from next year, prayer will start. I will come to Port Harcourt like I used to come, and I will say this will happen, and it will happen.
“Let me tell you who I am: I do not drink. I have never tasted alcohol in my life. I don’t smoke. I am not tribalistic. Whether in Rivers State or in Nigeria, I am not tribalistic.
“If I were tribalistic, President Goodluck Jonathan offered me opportunity to remain in PDP. He offered me all sorts of opportunities, but I said that I had given my allegiance to Buhari because I am not tribalistic.”
Amaechi also commded the defectors for their decision, saying he knew their characters and therefore trusted them.
“Let me welcome my friends. Like they told you, they shared power with me in the Assembly. And I tell people that there are not up to 10 per cent of politicians in Rivers State who didn’t pass through me. Mention names, I know their character.
“So, I say I am not supporting you for governorship because I know your character. You know, when we went to Abuja, this young man started making noise, an elderly Nigerian called me and said keep quiet, very soon Nigerians will know who he is, now everybody knows who he is,” he said.
