Obasanjo threatened to arrest me, forced me to flee to Ghana – Amaechi

The African Democratic Congress ADC presidential running mate, Rotimi Amaechi, has recounted how former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s threat forced him to flee Nigeria to Ghana while fighting to become governor of Rivers State.

Amaechi said Obasanjo attempted to stop him from becoming governor and threatened to have him arrested, prompting him to leave the country.

Speaking in a video shared on X, the former Rivers State governor said he continued his legal battle from Ghana until the court affirmed his position as the legally recognised candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP.

He made the disclosure while urging Nigerian youths to become more involved in politics and take up leadership positions.

Amaechi challenged young people to use their numerical strength to influence political leadership, citing examples of youth-led political movements in other countries.

He said, “President Obasanjo tried to stop me from being a governor, but you will see that I did not go to sleep. I went to court and when he threatened arrest, I left the country.

“I stayed in Ghana and from there I fought that case until I became governor. I’m the first and only Nigerian that the court pronounced as governor without proper election.

“So, the PDP won the election and the candidate that the court had said is the candidate of the PDP became the governor, and I was the candidate by law, so I didn’t just go to sleep.

“I didn’t just look at Obasanjo is from the South, so I shouldn’t fight him. Bloody what? Which South is that?”

He urged young Nigerians not to remain passive in the face of political developments, insisting that they have the numbers and capacity to produce ministers, governors and other leaders.