Amaechi Challenges Oshiomhole to Publish Academic Certificates, Says He Led APC Chairman’s Removal

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate, Rotimi Amaechi, has challenged former Edo State Governor and Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, to make his academic credentials public following their escalating war of words.

Amaechi also alleged that Oshiomhole’s criticism of him was driven by resentment over his role in the removal of the former governor as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The former Rivers State governor made the remarks during an interview on Rapid TV while responding to Oshiomhole’s recent description of him as “shallow” and “unreliable”.

Oshiomhole, during an earlier interview on TVC, had questioned Amaechi’s political credibility, accusing him of changing positions after previously supporting the APC and President Bola Tinubu before becoming critical of the party and the administration.

The senator also questioned Amaechi’s relationship with former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, the ADC presidential candidate, recalling that the former Rivers governor had previously challenged Atiku’s emergence as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate.

Oshiomhole alleged that Amaechi had described the primary election that produced Atiku as fraudulent and subsequently challenged his emergence in court, but later changed his position after Atiku approached him for political cooperation.

Responding, Amaechi listed his academic qualifications, insisting that Oshiomhole had no basis for describing him as shallow.

“He said I’m shallow, but I hold degrees in Law and Literature, Master’s degrees in both fields, and a certificate from the University of London. I also have a master’s degree from King’s College London, and I’m pursuing a master’s degree in Global Political Economy.

“Tell him to show his certificate,” Amaechi said.

He further questioned Oshiomhole’s comments, recalling that both men served as governors at the same time and that the senator was among those who elected him chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.

“He’s not my subordinate. We are equals. He was governor while I was governor. So he’s not my subordinate,” he said.

Amaechi maintained that he had no regrets about Oshiomhole’s removal as APC national chairman, claiming that he led the group of party stakeholders who worked towards his exit.

“What is paining Oshiomhole is that he was removed as chairman of the party, and I led the team that removed him as chairman of the party because he was incapable of governing the party,” he said.

The former minister also responded to allegations that his administration in Rivers State mismanaged public funds and abandoned projects, dismissing the accusations as false.

He questioned why Oshiomhole waited 12 years after his tenure as governor to raise the allegations, arguing that the senator had not made such claims while he was in office or shortly after leaving office.

“It took him 12 years. Nigeria has not asked questions. Twelve years to accuse me and falsely. He didn’t say it as I left office, he didn’t say it one year after, two years after, three years after,” Amaechi said.

He concluded by declaring that he would no longer respond to allegations from Oshiomhole, adding that the senator was free to make whatever claims he wished.