Tinubu’s allies disagree with Ameachi’s comment over vote-buying allegation.
By Naomisophyblog
Rotimi Amaechi, a former Transportation Minister and All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, came under fire on Monday for claiming that delegates who voted in the APC primary were bribed to influence the outcome of the convention.
Amaechi also claimed that many of those who were bribed with money later regretted their actions.
On Saturday, he made the divisive statement at an event commemorating the 60th birthday of the General Overseer of Abundant Life Evangelical Mission, Eugene Ogu, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State’s capital.
At the party’s national convention, the party’s standard-bearer, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, defeated Amaechi, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and 12 others to win the presidential ticket.
In response to his scathing remarks, some APC supporters and party leaders chastised the former Rivers State governor, accusing him of being frustrated after losing to Tinubu.
A number of Amaechi supporters have also come to his defence, claiming that the ex-minister made the conjecture without naming anyone.
Adebayo Shittu, Director-General of the Asiwaju Tinubu Presidential Campaign Organisation, said Amaechi’s statements were unbelievable.
“Who is regretting what?” he asked. Can Amaechi distance himself from those he claims he induced to vote? He, like the other APC primary candidates, cannot point fingers without implicating themselves.
“What does he mean when he says delegates regret accepting bribes in exchange for votes?” Is he implying that the governors who brought them received bribes and expressing regret? I’d like to have the opportunity to debate these issues with him.”
“Amaechi’s outburst, like a few other notable ones, was clearly motivated by frustration.” I understand that when one loses an election, it is natural to harbour resentment. That cannot be ruled out. We are, after all, human beings and Nigerians,” he added.
Gabriel Babalola, the Ekiti State Coordinator of Tinubu Support Organisation, also slammed Amaechi, wondering how a former minister thought he could win the APC presidential ticket without working hard for it.
“Before any of them could wake up, Asiwaju had travelled from state to state, from one traditional ruler to the next, seeking their support.”
“How many traditional rulers visited Amaechi prior to the convention?” He visited how many states? “He must have been frustrated,” Babalola said.
Nicholas Felix, the APC’s youngest presidential candidate, called for restraint on both sides.
“Amaechi, like some other aspirants and party members, may be disappointed that Asiwaju won the elections, especially with the contentious Muslim-Muslim ticket playing out,” he said.
“I am confident that the reaction would have been different had Tinubu not gone in that direction.” Perhaps everyone would have been pumped.”
Chief Chukwuemeka Eze, an Amaechi ally and APC chieftain, said it was unfortunate that Tinubu’s camp took the matter personally.
Eze, a former spokesman for the defunct new Peoples’ Democratic Party, observed that the former minister made no mention of Tinubu or any other politician, and wondered why he drew unnecessary criticism from his men.
“Did Amaechi name anyone when he made that statement?” So it is very unfortunate if Tinubu’s supporters believe they are the guilty party.
“Everyone saw what happened that day, and even the majority of the delegates confirmed that they were paid to vote,” he said.
In a related development, Darlington Nwauju, the APC’s Deputy Publicity Secretary in Rivers State, believed Amaechi was misunderstood.
“First and foremost, I was present at that ceremony or event where he spoke,” Nwauju stated. The problem is that he provided an example to which anyone can apply their own interpretation. I hope they heard him when he said, ‘Please vote for the APC.’ He stated it unequivocally.
“So, when people use issues as an example, he contextualises it because he is an APC member.” He couldn’t have used the PDP as an example. Those who voted for Atiku Abubakar would have said, “Oh, because he wants to join the PDP,” if he had said that. As a result, he contextualised it.”
All attempts to reach APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka for comment were futile.
He had not answered his phone calls or responded to SMS messages as of the time of filing this report.
However, a former APC Deputy Spokesman, Yekinni Nabena, hinted that if Amaechi truly desecrated the same process he used in the APC primary, he would be completely disappointed.
