Rotimi Amaechi, former Governor of Rivers State and ex-Transportation Minister, recently expressed deep appreciation to Dr. Peter Odili for the major support he provided throughout Amaechi’s political journey. Speaking in an interview with Ololade Adeniji-Adele on NTA, Amaechi emphasized the huge impact of Odili’s backing on his political advancement. He acknowledged Odili as a key figure who played a significant role in facilitating his growth within the political landscape.
While reflecting on his political beginnings, Amaechi credited Chief Rufus Ada George as the leader of the group under which he initially served. However, he stressed the paramount importance of Dr. Peter Odili’s support in enabling his political ascent. Amaechi expressed immense gratitude to both God and Odili for their instrumental roles in his career development, highlighting the significant influence Odili wielded in his trajectory.
Despite encountering various challenges along the way, Amaechi maintained a steadfast refusal to speak ill of Dr. Peter Odili. He explained that out of gratitude for the pivotal support he received from Odili, he refrained from mentioning his name or permitting anyone in his family to insult him. Amaechi underscored the principle of gratitude, emphasizing that acknowledging Odili’s contribution was essential, given his role in propelling Amaechi’s rise to prominence.
Amaechi recounted how Dr. Peter Odili’s support enabled him to assume the position of Speaker of the House during Odili’s regime and subsequently be nominated as the gubernatorial candidate for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). He highlighted Odili’s instrumental role as a divine tool in shaping his political trajectory, particularly in the face of obstacles, including opposition from former President Obasanjo, who attempted to thwart his gubernatorial aspirations.
PLEASE WATCH THE VIDEO FROM 07:45
Hear him: “First and foremost, the group was led by Chief Rufus Ada George. I also worked under Chief Rufus Ada George but most importantly, it was Dr Peter Odili that gave me the necessary political support that I needed to grow. I owe a lot of respect and gratitude to God and him for that. That’s why you will see that despite all the challenges I faced, I don’t talk about Dr Peter Odili. I don’t mention his name, I don’t let anybody in my family mention his name or insult him. Because that would be ingratitude knowing the kind of role he played to be the tool in God’s hands to make me the speaker of the House in his regime, and nominated me to be the candidate of the PDP for governorship before President Obasanjo tried to stop me from running.”
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