Why I rejected Atiku campaign job, by Amadi

Director, Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, Dr. Sam Amadi, has given reasons why he turned down the recent appointment as Director of Research for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign committee.

In a letter addressed to Director-General of Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign Committee, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Amadi, who is also a former Managing Director of Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), denied that his rejection was on political grounds.

He said as Secretary of Political and Strategy Committee of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), he bears “responsibility to support other distinguished Christian leaders to guide the leadership of the Christian community to work together with leaders of other faiths to fashion a common agenda for justice, freedom, unity and prosperity of the Nigerian state.”

Further, Amadi noted that as an analyst on Arise News, “which I consider one of the most strategic institutions for national development and sane deliberative democracy through analytical news reporting, my role in that reputable media platform also requires non-partisanship, even as I am free to express my opinions.”

“My rejection of the offer is in no way a vote of no confidence in the PDP presidential campaign or a rejection of the virtues of the members of that great party and its presidential candidate.”

The don said he recognised the appointment as somewhat an acknowledgement of the role he played in the past as a technocrat and from a professional standpoint, a call on him to help the party to develop ideas for development.

He stated: “My relationship with the PDP started with my appointment as Special Adviser to Senator Ken Nnamani, when he was elected Senate President.

“I continued with Chief Ojo Maduekwe advising him, first as Secretary of the PDP, and later as Foreign Affairs Minister. In these roles, I worked with other people in the PDP Reform Committee put together by President Obasanjo to turn the party into a developmentalist platform in the fashion of some Asian countries.”

“Although I was not a party member, I continued to support the work of the then ruling party through its think-tank, the Peoples Democratic Institute (PDI). I was engaged in these activities as an ‘ideas man’ in order to build a veritable policy making institution that will guarantee development for the country.”