By Laraba MUREY
In a fully packed stadium on Saturday, April 9, 2022, the Minister of Transportation, Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, unveiled his vision and mission to contest the 2023 presidency under the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
In the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Igwurita, Ikwerre Local Government Area, the former Rivers state governor, explained that his aspiration was not for selfish interests, rather a continuation of a call to service.
In a detailed letter titled; ‘Forward with Courage’, he said the decision to run did not come lightly as he has consulted widely before arriving at the decision.
“Fellow Nigerians, I stand before you today to declare my intention and submit my application to serve as your next President,” he intoned.
Continuing, “My aspiration is not about fulfilling any personal ambition. I am contesting for office because I believe that it is my moral duty to give what I can in the service of my country.
“To sustain and intensify present efforts at solving our national problems, our democracy must ensure the emergence of a leadership that is equipped with broad experience in governance to ensure stability and continuity.
“To sustain our democracy and preserve our unity, we need a steady hand and a passion for success in a nation that remains united to pursue prosperity for all Nigerians.
“It is this combination of experience and patriotic passion that I bring to the table. I have been in the political arena for 23 years.
“I have served at every level of government – local, state, and federal. I have served both as a political appointee and an elected official. I have served both as an executive – as Governor of Rivers State and as a legislator – as Speaker of the State House of Assembly.”
Pointing to his vast experience and track record, he observed that enriched by the governance system, he understands what good leadership meant, adding that he would contribute to the development of the nation.
The Abuja Inquirer learnt that the entry of the two-time director general of the Buhari Campaign Organisation in 2015 and 2019 has changed the dynamics in the APC.
A party chieftain, who asked not to be named for fear of retribution, said, “I can tell you for free that the optics for who gets the APC ticket has changed with Amaechi joining the race.
“Remember it was not for nothing that he was a two-time director general of the Buhari Campaign Organisation. Besides, he is a man after the president’s (Buhari) heart. There is little he wants that he doesn’t get. With the party zoning its presidential ticket to the south, just know it will settle in the south-south with the minister.”
The other aspirants for the coveted APC ticket are former Lagos state governor and a national leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Senator Rochas Okorocha, a former governor of Imo state with multiple corruption charges, incumbent governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Bello, and likely Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who has been on consultations and may likely join the race later this week.
Meanwhile, Plateau State governor, Simon Lalong, and a longtime ally of Amaechi, who represented the Northern States Governors Forum and the Progressives Governors Forum, said it was misrepresented in the media that Amaechi had no structure in the state.
Lalong stated that APC and the Transportation Minister had a formidable structure to win any election in the state.
He said: “You know that Amaechi is the Dan Amana Daura, he is somebody we trust. I am also here for the Progressives Governors Forum.
“This is a small take-off from Rivers State. I am happy because six years ago, we came here and started a campaign that produced a brand new president. That campaign was led by your son, Amaechi.
“We were told on the television that there was no APC in Rivers State. What we have seen today, many people will not sleep.”
