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I initially wanted to refrain from the Amaechi saga for private reasons. But on a second thought, I’d like to make this clarification at least, for the consumption of this house (K95).
First i’m making my comment from an informed position. I was in the said meeting with the Hon. Minister. I indeed moderated the QnA session which was supposed to be an informal conversation and off the record too. I’m also not holding brief for the Minister as I do not have his blessing to comment on this.
He did say it was an off the record conversation as it wasn’t a news making event. Of course several media guys where present (conventional and online platforms.) One of Amaechi’s friend (I don’t kmow him) was also present along side some of his personal aid and Ministry of transportation staff.
A few months after that conversation, a certain fellow made contact to Amaechi through a third party demanding a ransom of N5m else he would leak the content of that conversation. Ameachi called the bluff off the guy but drew our attention to the blackmail. Fast forward to the supposed leaked secrete tape.
I state unequivocally and without fear of contradictions that Amaechi’s comments were taken out of context. The released portions were crafty done to achieve a mischievous narrative. Please note that I speak here in my personal capacity as Chris Agabi and my views doesn’t represent that of my employers.
I will attempt to provide the contexts, some of which might already in the public domain. I will paraphrase.
Yes indeed Mr. Ameachi said Nigerians are complaining three years down the line of this administration… Workers are crying, politician are crying, farmers are crying, pressmen are crying, students are crying… Because Buhari is no longer sharing money. Buhari has stopped the rent economy because you can’t build an economy like that. They took these portions out.
He further explained what he meant. For instance he said, back in the previous governments, someone would you come to you, praise sing you and you probably dash him $100,000. He goes home and gives his wife $50,000. The wife goes to the market and buys some food stuffs. The market woman uses the money to pay school fees. His wife also gives the mother and father out of the money. The farhee goes to the carpenter to make a furniture and the circle continues. He thus said this culture of sharing money has ended under PMP and which is why people are complaining because there is no more free money to share.
On the comment that Buhari don’t read. Again the context was deliberately taken out and the literal meaning presented. Amaechi meant that PMB isn’t bothered as much with the negative reports in the papers…Buhari ‘don’t read’ ..those things. He gave an example to buttress his point. That Buhari once drew his attention to a cartoon about him in the papers…Amaechi said Buhari said to him Amaechi see what this people have drawn and they laughed over it.
On his comment that “this country won’t change…” Ameachi was clearly speaking to the level of corruption in the country. He said corruption runs deep in Nigeria that if you want to eradicate it in Nigeria completely, then you probably would have kill all Nigerians. This was also presented literally.
But he also said corruption has reduced under PMB. “I can’t say there is no corruption now under Buhari” but Buhari has reduced corruption because people know there is consequences for bad corruption.
It was a fairly lengthy conversation so I would serve other details when the blackmailiers release further audio clips.
My account might not be a perfect rendition but I hope it helped cleared some grey areas.
