Hon. Rotimi Amaechi is presently Nigeria’s Minister of Transport. He has just served as the Director-General of President Mohammdu Buhari’s Campaign Organization. The presidential election took place on the 23rd of February, 2019 and Major General Muhamadu Buhari won. This in a way means that Amaechi did well as the head of the campaigners that helped Buhari to secure a second term in office as Nigerians president and this is if the court upholds his victory over Atiku.
Beyond his present political status, Rotimi Amaechi has featured prominently in all elections in Nigeria since 1999. He was the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly between 1999 and 2007 on the platform of PDP. He became the governor of the State in 2007 without campaigning for it. He won the governorship election in Rivers again in 2011 and thus governed the state for eight years as a PDP member. PERSONALITY: DEIN OF AGBOR IS MY BROTHER – Owa Monarch
Before the conclusion of Rotimi’s second term in office, he had a ‘dirty fight’ with the then First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan and by extension, the President of the Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. This fight cost him the position of the Chairman of Nigeria’s Governors’ Forum even though he won the seat in an election. The crisis that followed Rotimi’s denial of the position of Leader of Governors to a large extent was responsible for the defeat of Jonathan in 2015 presidential election. The man pulled out of PDP with some Northern governors and joined the APC. The rest is now history. But then, Rivers State has not known peace since 2015. This is the only State in the South where the number of deaths recorded from 2015 to date can only be compared to those in Borno State which is ravaged by the Boko Haram insurgence.
Even though Yesom Wike won the governorship of the State in 2015 on the platform of PDP, Amaechi is yet to accept that victory. Again, Rivers is the only state in the South where the 2019 governorship election was not concluded on the 9th of March, 2019. As the battle of ego between Wike and Amaechi continues, more deaths are expected in Rivers and if this is not checked by Amaechi himself, this may lead to a major crisis in the State particularly and Nigeria in general.
The grace of God on the life of Rotimi Amaechi have been wonderful, especially in politics and health. It is dangerous to stretch this grace longer than this. If I were the man, the only option for me would have been to resign from active politics. If he does this, the world would reserve a place for him in history as a peace lover and leader of note. There are many reasons for Amaechi to resign from politics.
The ovation for him is going down very fast. One cannot deny the fact that Rotimi was a principal actor that assembled the crack team of politicians that stopped the continued dominance of Nigerian politics by the PDP. This feat is note worthy!
Almost all the governors that left the PDP in sympathy with Amaechi for the APC in 2014 have withdrawn their support for Buhari whose leadership have placed the hitherto unity of the country on the line. Remaining in politics and APC means that Buhari has the support of Amaechi in his lobsided appointments in favour of the North.
Despite being the Director-General of Buhari’s Campaign Organization, APC could not win in Rivers during the presidential polls. Even if the APC is allowed now to nominate Amaechi as its governorship candidate for the remaining local government areas where elections are to hold at later dates, chances are that Wike will floor him. This will be too humiliating for a man who did so well for his people before ‘things fell apart’ in 2014.
While growing up as a little boy in the village, we used to visit the army barracks in the community where we were privileged to watch some Chinese and American war-like movies. In those films, we discovered that “Actors” do not die during wars. And actors are like military commanders. In Rivers State, Amaechi is the Commander of his ‘troops’ which has lost grip of the political war in the State. As Nigerians we still love the politician and wish that he lives long enough to write his political memo for generations yet unborn.
When the Nigerian Civil War got to its peak in 1970, Emeka Odimegwu Ojukwu did not wait to die at the war front. Instead, he escaped to Ivory Coast (also known as Cote D’voire) where he remained as a fugitive till 1982 when he was granted pardon by President Shehu Shagari. He came back as a hero and remained as one until he died few years ago.
On his part, General Gowon Yakubu was the Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria during the war. He ruled until he was forced out of office by younger officers led by General Muritala Mohammed. He did not resist the change of leadership. Rather, he sent himself on exile in Britain. He was also there for several years before he gained pardon from the Federal government. Today, Gowon is a major stakeholder in the affairs of the country, both socially and politically.
In the heat of the crisis occasioned by the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, General Babangida was wise enough to avert what would have resulted to another civil war. He willingly ‘stepped aside’ and handed power over to Chief Ernest Shonekan. The Chief became the first Nigerian to be crowned president without contesting election or enrolling in the military. As it stands now, no major political decision can be effectively taken in Nigeria without the knowledge of IBB.
General Abacha and Chief M.K.O Abiola on their part were not wise enough to notice the hand writing on the wall. They died in the June 12 war. And their memories are only noted today in Nigeria’s poorly kept history.
Imagine one day when it is reported in the press that Amaechi has addressed a world press conference where he advised his supporters to ‘sheath their sword’ and allow Wike be for the sake of peace in Rivers. Also imagine how Rivers people, including Wike, his ‘younger brother’ will relate with him thereafter.
This is a humble appeal to Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and one hopes he will take a look at this and decide to remain on the positive side of history.