Rotimi Amaechi, Ex-Rivers Governor Who Has Held Public Office For 30 Years Joins Presidential Race

Rotimi Amaechi, Nigeria’s minister of transportation, who has held political offices for 30 years since his first political appointment at age 27, has declared for the presidency on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress.

Amaechi made the declaration at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Rivers State, during the All Progressives Congress thanksgiving, on Saturday, April 9, 2022. 

The minister joins a growing list of politicians who have expressed interest in running for the presidency in the ruling party. Others are party leader and former Lagos governor, Bola Tinubu; Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi state; Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state; former Abia governor, Senator Orji Kalu and former Imo governor, Senator Rochas Okorocha.

The party’s primary election is expected to be in May and Amaechi is the latest to express interest. Other politicians Nigerians are speculating may run include vice president, Yemi Osinbajo and CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele.

Very few of the contestants can rival Aamaechi’s political longevity as he has occupied political positions since his foray into politics in 1992 as a special assistant to Dr Peter Odili when the latter was Rivers deputy governor from 1992 to 1994. Before politics, he had worked with Odili as personal assistant at his Pamo Clinics and Hospitals Ltd from 1988 to1992, shortly after his NYSC. 

When Nigeria returned to democracy in 1999, the 56-year-old was elected member of the Rivers State House of Assembly to represent the Ikwerre constituency and was subsequently elected speaker, serving eight years while Odili was governor. Amaechi succeeded Odili as governor in 2007 and also served eight years all under the Peoples Democratic Party. 

After the merger of political parties to form the APC in 2013, Amaechi was one of the seven governors who formed the G-7 faction and subsequently moved to the APC. He was appointed minister of transportation in 2015 by President Muhammadu Buhari and reappointed in 2019.

He is described as Buhari’s son as some believe he has the ear of the president. In February, he was turbaned as Dan Amanar Daura (trusted son of Daura) by the Emir of Daura, Umar Farouk Umar. He reportedly pushed for the establishment of the University of Transportation to be cited in Daura.