Former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, has challenged Senator Adams Oshiomhole to make his academic qualifications public following the senator’s description of him as “shallow” and “unreliable”.
Amaechi threw the challenge during an interview on Rapid TV while reacting to Oshiomhole’s recent criticism of his political positions and relationship with opposition figures.
Oshiomhole had questioned Amaechi’s credibility, accusing him of inconsistency over his criticism of the All Progressives Congress and President Bola Tinubu, despite previously supporting the ruling party.
The former Edo State governor also faulted Amaechi’s association with former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, recalling his previous opposition to Atiku’s emergence as the Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate.
Responding, Amaechi dismissed the description of him as shallow, citing his academic background and insisting that both men were political equals who served as state governors around the same period.
He said, “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.”
The former governor also recalled that Oshiomhole was among the governors who supported his emergence as chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, questioning the basis for the senator’s current assessment of him.
“He’s not my subordinate. We are equals. He was governor while I was governor. So he’s not my subordinate,” Amaechi said.
He further attributed Oshiomhole’s criticism to his alleged role in the former governor’s removal as national chairman of the APC, claiming he led the group that worked against Oshiomhole’s continued leadership of the party.
“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 alleged.
