EXCITING NEWS: TNG WhatsApp Channel is LIVE…
Subscribe for FREE to get LIVE NEWS UPDATE. Click here to subscribe!
Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi
Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi has reacted to rumours that he is nursing the ambition to run for President in the 2023 general elections, insinuating he does not have the financial capacity to contest for the number one position.
Amaechi made this known on Saturday when he appeared as a guest on the Arise TV morning show monitored by our correspondent and asked groups campaigning for him to run as President to give him such funds instead.
“I need money to survive,” the minister said, when asked to confirm whether he was eyeing the Aso Villa come 2023.
On Friday, a group known as Amaechi Vanguard in USA/Canada had urged the All Progressives Congress to choose the Minister as the party’s consensus presidential candidate, in view of the “sacrifices” he had made for the party.
Coordinator of the group Daniels Chukwuma, said Amaechi’s courage in canvassing for Muhammadu Buhari’s presidential ambition in 2015 in South-South and South-East zones was one of the major reasons the APC became the ruling party in the country.
“Chibuike Amaechi had made enough sacrifices for the APC. He has taken enough bullets for the APC. Amaechi was at the forefront of canvassing for Muhammadu Buhari’s presidential ambition in the South-South and South-East zones in 2015 at a time it was like a sin to do so in the two regions.
“He canvassed for Buhari in Rivers, Bayelsa, Edo, Akwa Ibom and others states in the South-East. Remember these are Goodluck Jonathan’s home states and areas he was hugely supported. But Amaechi took the bull by the horns and went through the humiliation process to ensure that the APC won the 2015 presidential election,” Chukwuma said.
Earlier in February, the Coalition of Northern Youth for Good Governance had also endorsed Amaechi, saying that at the age of 56 years, he does not have the burden of old age-related health challenges associated with some aspirants.
National Coordinator of the group Bilal Dakiyak, said Amaechi was also the most suitable candidate to sustain the achievements of President Muhammed Buhari, especially in the area of diversification and economic reform.
“That way Nigeria will not suffer losses that arise because of the government of different political party deciding not to press ahead with the policies and projects inaugurated by the outgoing government. It is on record that Nigeria has lost much to the lack of continuity in government,” Dakiyak said.
However, Amaechi has said he does not have the financial muscle to run for President, as there are speculations that the cost of the nomination form for President could be pegged at N50 million, about 11 per cent higher than the N45 million it sold for in 2019.