“There is nowhere in report that indicted me for corruption” - Amaechi

Newly appointed minister and ex-governor spoke on his stand on corruption and allege tribunal that investigated him.

Amaechi Spoke……………

The word corruption is a very wide concept. If people are contesting for a position and you offer your son, brother or sister an opportunity to hold that position, probably the person is not qualified, you are corrupt. So, it is difficult for me to define corruption.

Corruption is very difficult to define. If you are a public officer and you don’t take bribe, I’ve never taken bribe in my life,   but if they send a girl to you and you sleep with the girl and do her favour, you are corrupt.

The reason it was difficult in my political career is that I was trying to test my right and fight for my right. I was once a students union leader and, believe me, if there is one man who doesn’t like corruption, I don’t like corruption.

                                  

I have come here with a copy of the so-called panel report and there is no-where the panel indicted me. I am here to tender the report before the Senate; no-where, I repeat, there is nowhere the report indicted me.

However, because there are challenges, people in Nigerian politics believe that there is the need for a compromise. I would do that, but where it clashes with my principle, I find it a bit difficult to do what people may want me to do. If you ask me to advise politicians, I find it very difficult because most politicians will want to survive and so, because I don’t do that, I face challenges.

In October 25, the Supreme Court declared me as governor; don’t forget that I was facing similar challenge I am facing now. I was chased out of the country to Ghana; my family was chased out of the country, we were living in one room with my children just because I stood for my right, but God and the Supreme Court found me worthy and declared me as governor of Rivers State.