Ministerial Nomination: Why Gov. Rotimi Amaechi Is Good To Go In This Dispensation For The Sake Of Equity And Good Conscience

The ministerial list before the Senate, no doubt, has generated public outcry. Political analysts are of the opinion that President Muhammadu Buhari played on the intelligence of Nigerians for parading names that are familiar in the political terrain and in the corridors of power spanning over two decades.

More worrisome, these analysts say is the inclusion of former Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Rotimi Chubuike Amaechi who the incumbent governor of that state, Barrister Nysom Wike accused of certain degree of sharp practices during his eight years tenure. Gov. wike and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) went further to do a documentary on the corruption profile of the ex-governor, aired on AIT TV stations across the country.

ROTIMI AMAECHI IN THE PDP-APC POLITICAL EQUATION?

The Ex-governor of Rivers State who is now to be screened for the office of Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was one time a Honourable member of the Rivers State House of Assembly and subsequently became Speaker of the House. He later became the governor of the state under the platform of the PDP after a legal battle. His tenure witnessed great socioeconomic transformation in Rivers State. His projects are there for all to see, anytime, any day.

Amaechi was a leading voice and a shining light in the PDP before he fell out with his political associate and friend, Barrister Wike, now governor. While Amaechi was governor, Wike held sway as a federal minister and played a major role in questioning the political supremacy of Amaechi in Rivers State, when it was obvious that the ex-governor and former President Goodluck Jonathan could no longer agree on socioeconomic issues at both federal and state levels.

The duo (Amaechi and Wike) cold war lasted throughout the eight years of Amaechi’s administration as governor and Wike tenure as Minister. Towards the end of the previous administration, Wike joined the governorship race with the full support of President Jonathan and his wife, Patience.

In the same token, Amaechi supported the governorship aspirations of Mr. Peterside of the All Progressives Congress (APC). This development marked another battle of the political heavyweights in Rivers State.

But alas, Wike with the backing of the President schemed out the APC candidate in an election adjudged to be the worse in terms of election malpractices in the history of Rivers State. The tribunal will rule on this in the near future.

AMAECHI, APC VERSUS PDP IN RIVERS STATE.

Political observers are of the opinion that the acute hatred for Amaechi in the PDP camp 8th Senate is his political sagacity. He mobilized a faction of the PDP to defect to the APC at a time President Jonathan was nursing second time ambition.

For nearly 90 days the country was almost in disarray because Ameachi and his group were hell bent on pulling down the roof of the PDP in Rivers State and the country at large.

Legal fireworks went on for weeks before the then New PDP promoters had a positive romance with the APC and all its Chieftains defected except for ex-Niger State Governor, Servant-Leader Babaginda Aliu who was prevailed upon by former President Ibrahim Babaginda.

The Chieftains of the PDP and former President Jonathan will not forget in a hurry the horrible political nightmare Amaechi took them through in the very eyes of Nigerians.

The ex-governor’s persistent bravery and acute believe in his determination to wreck the damaged umbrella of the PDP was obvious and part of the result is the victory of the APC at the last general elections, now in-charge of the national government. This is the major reason all PDP supporters all over the country are calling for the head of Amaechi.

WHY AMAECHI MUST BE MINISTER.

Rotimi Amaechi can best be described as a frontline freedom fighter who in no small measures persuaded Nigerians to reject the PDP because of its 16 years of misrule especially the mismanagement of the nation’s proceeds from sale of crude oil.

Amaechi accused President Jonathan and the FORMER Petroleum Minister of sophisticated corruption in the petroleum sector which the PDP cabal denied. But today, Amaechi and His Royal Majesty, Emir Sanusi of Kano State have been vindicated by the arrest and prosecution of former petroleum Minister, Mrs. Daziani Allison-Madueke in London.

The APC as a party will be very unfair to Amaechi if for any reason under the sun he is dropped from the ministerial list. After all, the petition written by a group in Rivers State rejecting the nomination of Amaechi are mere allegations that are yet to be proven. Allegation is not the same as conviction.

Senator Omisore of Osun State won election while in police custody under the PDP and heavy did not come down. Amaechi should be screened by the senate because he is not known at law as a criminal or ex-convict. He is clean and good to go.

At best, let the investigation be initiated and if found guilty at the end of the criminal trial in competent court, Mr. President in his wisdom will of a necessity do the needful. But not before Amaechi has been found guilty of the allegations against him. That is the law. Again, the good governance offered the people of Rivers States speaks volume. Never in the history of that State had development taken place in such magnitude.

Amaechi pioneered a new administrative style in public and leadership realm. He consistently organized town hall meetings with his people. He knew each town and village and was able to freely articulate progress made in government without holding a piece of paper. He is super qualified to be appointed a federal minister. Nigeria needs Amaechi more than he needs Nigeria.

Amaechi is a brilliant leader and fearless too. He is a modern leader that Nigerian youth should struggle so hard to emulate. Today’s leadership paradigm shift recognizes the contributions of Amaechi as a vibrant and progressive African who was able to turn the fortunes of his state and people around for the better.

Senator Bukola Saraki should not listen to his PDP colleagues in the Senate who are out to victimize Amaechi because of the roles he played in the past in relation to the defection of certain top ranking PDP leaders who defected to add zest and political nutrients to the victory of the APC at the national level.

Senator Saraki must display high sense of responsibility and commitment to the CHANGE mantra and the future of the Nigerian nation by working very closely with President Buhari to deliver substantial dividend of democracy to Nigerians.

The Senate and Senators of the PDP should forget yesterday and look forward to birth of a new Nigeria where socioeconomic prosperity and unity top the agenda for growth and development. Not political victimization. Not jealousy and personal interest. We must always think NIGERIA first.

President Buhari ministerial list is credible. The Nigerians on that list are people of proven integrity; people who performed creditably in the discharge of their previous assignments either as governors or as former ministers or in whatever capacities they served.

The bulk of failure in governance is placed at the leader’s table and in this case Nigerians will blame President Buhari should he fail to bring about substantial changes in all aspects of our social milieu. Let the list go through, let Buhari do the needful.

Buhari mean well for Nigeria, he is a good leader and Nigerians will never regret his service to this nation. We need to cooperate with the APC administration at the federal level to transform our economy and bring real prosperity to our people. Rotimi Amaechi is good to go.