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FORMER governor of Rivers State, Dr Peter Odili, has given an account of how former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Malam Nuhu Ribadu stopped him and the incumbent governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi from contesting the 2007 presidential election.
Odili, in his autobiography due to be released in two weeks time, said Ribadu, at a stage, threatened to resign as the chairman of the anti-graft commission if Amaechi was allowed to be the Rivers State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The former governor accused the EFCC of hounding him out of the presidential contest in 2007, based on what he described as “a spurious and anonymous petition posted on the internet on 12th December, 2006, from a questionable ‘source’ alleging CORRUPT practices against the Rivers State Government” under him.
“These allegations were converted into a petition by the EFCC under Nuhu Ribadu’s hand, to the President same day. On the 13th of December, 2006 Mr President directed EFCC to investigate. On the 14th day of December, 2006, EFCC submitted a so-called “interim” report to the then President, who promptly minuted for my response on the same 14th December, 2006, but forwarded to me on 15/12/06, a day to convention vide ref. PRES/44.
“I assembled what was left of my cabinet team, a few having been arrested and kept at the EFCC office in Lagos within these few days of urgent dramatic action. We submitted our response on the 15th day of December, 2006 by which time it had become clear what the whole exercise was about “Get Odili out of the race for the Presidency, at all cost.”
“For maximum mischievous damage this contrived so-called ‘interim report’ was hurriedly uploaded into the internet, but when our response to the spurious allegations was submitted on the 15th of December 2006, it was not accorded the same treatment. Why, you may ask? Some sense of fair hearing isn’t it?
“Till date the innocent uninformed still make reference to that judicially nullified and voided report. This became lucidly clear with the instant release of my staff who were being detained in Lagos by the EFCC as soon as I voluntarily and wisely withdrew from the contest.
“There was jubilation at the EFCC office immediately the news of my withdrawal broke and all my staff were asked by EFCC to go home immediately. This was on the 15th of December.
Then came the ‘D’ Day 16th December, 2006- the date of the convention. I was invited for morning prayers with the President at the Presidential Villa and after the prayers I had a brief chat with the then President in his private study at the residence.
“He acknowledged my letter of withdrawal from the race and informed me of his intention to get Umaru Yar’Adua- the now expected winner of the upcoming primaries at the Convention, to make me his running mate. I thanked him for his kind thoughts and assured him that I bore no grudge or ill-will for the turn of events and that all through my campaigns, I had ended my speeches on the note ‘let God’s will be done’. I left him on that note at about 7.30-8.00 a.m.
“The convention was to start at 10am. As 12.30 p.m. the venue was literally empty. I was informed that most of the delegates who were in support of the candidature were upset and unwilling to go to the venue. It took the extra-effort and persuasion of my campaign organidation leader, Dr Raymond Dokpesi, and some key directors of my campaign to get most of the delegates out to the Eagle Square. By 3pm the venue became fairly full.
“I was persuaded to go and accompany Umaru to the venue. I had been informed earlier in the day that the news of my pairing with Umaru was in the air and that ‘some people’ were already ganging up to oppose the proposed pairing.
“It was however noteworthy that when I got to the Katsina State Lodge to join Umaru to proceed to the Eagle Square I met him downstairs in the company with some party leaders- Chief James Ibori, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, Dr. Bukola Saraki, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and Nasir el-Rufai. Their conversation stopped when I walked in, but I read nothing sinister to the gathering or reaction to my entry. Umaru quickly took me upstairs and thanked me for coming and assured me of his happiness at the prospect of our working together. He called his wife, Turai into the room and introduced us.
“We later proceeded to the Eagle Square together and were joined by other colleagues in walking round the square.
“Convention started after the arrival of all dignitaries and convention events proceeded peacefully.
“In the course of the night I was invited to the VIP Guest Room at Eagle Square and was privileged to sight the typed copy of Umaru’s prepared acceptance speech. It was clearly stated that he had nominated Dr Peter Odili as his running-mate for the Presidential race. This was at about midnight or so. In the course of the next few hours, information started reaching me that there was strong pressure to drop me from the ticket. Since I did not lobby for it, I wasn’t bothered- I remained with my state delegates.”
Tribune
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