Why I Begged Jonathan - Amaechi

Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, yesterday, opened up on the role he played in the emergence of Mr. Nyesom Wike as a Minister in the country, saying that President Goodluck Jonathan, initially rejected Wike, but he (Amaechi) persistently appealed to the President to consider Wike for the job.

Wike is the supervising Minister of Education.

Amaechi, at the convention of the apex Ikwerre body, Ogbako Ikwerre, in Emohua Local Government Area of the state, said President Jonathan, initially rejected Wike when he recommended him for ministerial appointment.

Amaechi said his reward for his efforts at creating political visibility for his kinsmen in the country had been gross betrayal. He also recalled that he made Austin Opara Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.

He said: “When you see Nyesom Wike, tell him I nominated him to be a minister. And I have one witness sitting here today (yesterday). Chief Sampson Agbaru is my witness. He led other prominent sons and daughters of Ikwerre to see President Jonathan and the President told them that he had not known Nyesom Wike from Adam, that when Amaechi brought Wike’s name, he (Jonathan) opposed it. The President opposed the appointment of my former Chief of Staff as minister.

“He (Jonathan) rejected Wike and I begged President Jonathan several times and consistently because I wanted Wike to be appointed a minister. But today, Nyesom Wike has betrayed me for selfish reasons. Also, by the grace of God, I made Chief Austin Opara Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives. God used me. Prominent politicians met me and told me that there cannot be two captains in a boat, if I make Austin Opara, Deputy Speaker, I might not be the political leader in Ikwerre. But I said, I want my people to benefit and I picked Austin’s name and we battled to make him Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives in 2003.”
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