Top political figures, opinion leaders, women and youths groups are said to be going on pilgrimage to the home of former governor of Rivers State and now Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, urging him to contest the 2023 Presidential election.
Metronetworknews gathered that the call on Amaechi to run is ostensibly predicated on his rich track record in government and ability to change the fortunes of the country positively.
Sources close to the minister revealed that he may soon be goaded into running for the highest office in the land by the politicians, civil society ,women and youths groups, traditional, christian and muslim leaders.
It would be recalled that a few weeks back, after a high-powered meeting that lasted for hours, critical stakeholders from the South-South region made public their stand to mop-up support and fully mobilize conscious Nigerians to throw their weights behind the Transportation Minister, when he eventually shows interest for the presidential race.
“Rotimi Amaechi deserves the Support of all”- they stated in a communique issued at the end of their meeting in Port Harcourt.
“He is Preferred because of his immense contributions to the development of Nigeria and the success of the All Progressives Congress (APC)’’. NACRA 23’.
“How ever and which ever way one would describe Amaechi, one Chief thing is that he is a workaholic people’s servant, constantly thinking out policies that will enhance public welfare, especially the well-being of the poor and needy in society”.
“Having shown uncommon commitment towards the success of the Buhari/APC administration and the general good of Nigerians, Amaechi is eminently qualified in all ramifications, to lead the country to attain greater heights”. Chizi Nyeomasila said.
While some Nigerians prefer the two-term Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, over all others, because of his pragmatic and visionary leadership model, others say he is young, energetic and willing to work for the development of Nigeria, based on his experience in politics, his administrative acumen, his mastery of the Nigerian political terrain and more.
Apart from hundreds of political pressure groups from South South region of Nigeria, patriotic groups from other regions have also joined the project of wooing the Minister into the race, given his antecedents. These include the Nigerian students, Arewa, Igbo, Yoruba, Niger Delta groups and over 300 beneficiaries of Amaechi’s Overseas Scholarship scheme during his years as Governor of Rivers State.
Very key and influential amongst these groups is Nigerians in Diaspora Agenda 2023 for Amaechi, led by Barr. Sam Wosu, a sound and renowned technocrat based in London.
According to this group, “we are ready to mobilise Nigerians both within and outside the country to ensure that a focussed, detribalized, visionary, egalitarian and patriotic Nigerian like Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, whose antecedents and feats as an Administrator is well known and acknowledged all over the world, becomes the President come 2023.
Assisting NDA2023 in her mission are over 86 Nigerian youths in diaspora who have volunteered to coordinate over 3000 other youths sent on Scholarship overseas during the administration of Rt. Hon. Amaechi as Governor of Rivers State.
In their mobilization strategy termed – ‘Project Contact others you know’, the group said they have watched and followed Amaechi and have come to the conclusion that if there is any Nigerian living today and capable of rescuing and repositioning Nigeria to achieve the lofty goals and ideals of the founding fathers of the country, it is Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and nobody else.
Given credence to the above assertion and position, Hon. Oyet Precious, Project Coordinator and Spokesperson of the Beneficiaries of RSSDA Overseas Scholarship Network, BROSNET – a powerhouse of talents, brains and ideas, said, “RSSDA particularly to those not from Rivers State is the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency, an entity set up by law by the Rivers State Government of Nigeria through the RSSDA Act of 2007 and amended in 2008. The agency is a structured, sequential and integrated intervention programme established by the Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi led administration with the mandate to impact the people of Rivers State through initiatives such as the provision of infrastructure, skills development, job creation and human capital development. As a Network of foreign trained graduates, technocrats, eggheads, professionals, champions and solution providers from diverse disciplines and domains, we believe impossibility is nothing. As such, we’re on a Mission to make the impossible possible, close the gap gradually and make a difference.
The fact remains that most of us know in our gut that Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi is the right man for the job of President and with the help of God Nigeria will be great again under Amaechi.”
Apart from great sons and daughters of the South-West, including Traditional Rulers who have indicated interest to ensure that all political structures in the West collapses for the vision of rescuing and repositioning Nigeria through Amaechi’s presidency, Hon. Nias Adebayo Kayode, a former member of the Oyo State House of Assembly and leader of the Amalgamation of South/West ex-Lawmakers for Amaechi, is charged to mobilise the grassroot to clear the ground for Amaechi to take over of the South West before 2023.
Outside the works of Amaechi Vanguard and other related political pressure Groups in mobilizing the Northern region for Amaechi, the efforts of the Arewa Youths to rally support for Amaechi Presidency need not be overemphasized.
According to report widely published in most Nigerian Newspapers, Young persons from the Northern part of Nigeria under the aegis of Arewa Youth for Amaechi 2023, have said for the country to attain the development it desires, all citizens must get involved in the process of leadership recruitment.
Consequently, the group said it has identified the current Minister of Transportation, Hon. Rotimi Ameachi, as possessing the right credentials to lead the country on the path of desired development and National unity.
In this guise, the group in a statement signed by its National Co-ordinator, Comrd. Yusuf Yahuza explained that the group will organize a public lecture in Kano State with the theme: ‘The role of youth in forging National Unity and Integration to stimulate consciousness amongst youths to get involved in the leadership recruitment process.
According to the statement, during the lecture, participants would ex-ray the virtues of Hon. Rotimi Amaechi’s political sojourn and inaugurate National Executive officers for the group to propagate the candidature of Amaechi and subsequently impress on him to contest the 2023 presidential election.
“As 2023 general elections approach, we are not unaware of the expectations of well-meaning citizens. This is why having looked around the country, we have been able to identify the current Minister of Transportation as one who is fit to take over the mantle of leadership when President Muhammadu Buhari leaves office. Hon. Amaechi stands out in many regards when you take a cursory look at the numerous achievements he made when he held sway as Governor of Rivers State.”
“As Minister of Transportation, he has not left anyone in doubt that indeed he is a lover of development. The transformation in the railway sub-sector of the transportation sector has delighted all across the country and beyond. Besides, Amaechi remains a bridge builder that will serve as a unifying factor of the country especially at a time when there are many agitations in different parts of the country”, the statement noted.
At the just concluded National Convention of the Nigerian Students with the theme”Amaechi: the Emergence of a product of Campus Struggle”, held in Calabar, Cross Rivers State, the Students Association enumerated the marvelous works of the Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi in the education sector, when he held sway as Rivers Governor and the need to replicate same and even more across the country to transform education in Nigeria.
Speaking at the event the group’s leader, Comr. Alfred Marshall Osanna, said Nigerian students and those in the diaspora have resolved to work hand in glove with other patriotic Nigerians and groups countrywide to see that the Transportation Minister joins and wins the 2023 presidential race and deploys his magic wand in leadership to develop the human and material potentials of Nigeria to the fullest.
In attendance were Alabo Francis Ebenezer, the EDFA of NDBDA, the National patron of the Association with Dr. Lawrence Chuku the Patron of the Uniport Chapter amongst many other dignitaries.
According to Alabo Ebenezer in his presentation, “Amaechi’s Developmental Revolution in Rivers State during his reign as a Governor was felt in all aspects of the sectors, ranging from construction and reconstruction of major streets and roads across the 23 Local Government Areas, building of primary, secondary and Tertiary health centres and hospitals and unusual Over_Sees Scholarship are parts of the reasons why we all are urging him to throw in the towel and contest the 2023 Presidential election.
Senator Andrew Uchendu, the Chairman of the Governing Board of the University of Port Harcourt, who was ably represented at the event by Dr. Lawrence Chuku, in his opening remarks highlighted key feats of Amaechi while as the Governor of Rivers State and his unique leadership outputs why he should contest the 2023 presidential election.
Prof. Adiele Edward of the Dept of Educational Management, Faculty of Education, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolumeni presented a lecture titled, “Exploring The Political Potentials of Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi For National Cohesion and Development Agenda for 2023” during the historical event.
A former governorship candidate in Rivers State, Tonye Princewill, had said the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has the requisite qualities to become the President in 2023.
Princewill said, given Amaechi’s achievements as a former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, and chairman, conference of Speakers in Nigeria, as well as a two-term governor, and now Minister for over six years, he stands tall among top politicians in the country to steer the nation’s ship.
He stated this in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, while reacting to a statement by the Arewa youths urging the minister to contest for the presidency in 2023.
Princewill said, “they say a prophet is not always appreciated in his own home. Although it may seem like it, this is not quite the case. Our Amaechi is appreciated both at home and abroad and has what it takes to become President.”
On the call by the Arewa youths for the Transportation Minister to show interest in the 2023 Presidential race, Princewill said, “I support these youths who did what they could with no help from any big man.
“I watched them closely from afar. Their actions match their words and those that know the truth know we need someone who is ready to put sentiments aside and move this country forward”.
Recall that some youths from the Northern part of Nigeria under the auspices of Arewa Youths for Amaechi 2023 said that for the country to attain the development it desires, all the citizens should get involved in the process of leadership recruitment.
