A presidential aspirant, Rt Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has declared that his age and energy separate him from other seeking to contest the presidential election in 2023.
This was as he said his decision to run for the presidency is borne out of the need to serve and provide selfless leadership to Nigerians
Amaechi spoke when he paid a consultative visit to the Lagos State chapter of the leadership of All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Babatunde Osuolale Aremu Akiolu 1.
The former governor of Rivers State, in a release by his media office, said, considering his wealth of experience, he would be a president that would protect the interest of all Nigerians, irrespective of tribe or religion.
Amaechi said: “I come with a national interest. I am 56 years old; I am energetic; I am strong and if you work with me you will know that it is a bit difficult to get me tired.
“So, because I come with that energy, it separates me from the rest of the candidates who are running with me. I have come to talk to your conscience because it is about Nigeria. It is not about my father; it is not about my brother. It is about the nation.
“We are at the point where our decisions will make the difference in moving the country forward. We are at the point where we can appeal to our conscience that our votes should count in making sure that we would not regret after the election.
“So, put your votes for me. What separates me from the rest of the candidates in the party is that I am young and if you look at all of us, I come with experience.”
“I was a Speaker for eight years. So, I come with experience. I have served as governor in a state where people were being kidnapped, people were being killed, robbery was on the increase, people couldn’t go out in Port Harcourt, parties weren’t going on, health sector was bad.
“But, in six months I chased away the criminals, got people to go back to work and restored sanity in the state. So, I am the only aspirant that does not only come with experience but has served in a state where there was insecurity.
“I have also served at the national level. I have served seven years as Minister for Transport. And If you were in Lagos when we were constructing the Lagos-Ibadan railway, you will know that I am not a big-man-minister.
“[This is] because I was coming to Lagos every month and I will sleep here. I will trek for 17 kilometres, screaming at contractors because we gave them timeline and we delivered the Lagos-Ibadan railway.
“So, I actually come with experience. I am applying to be employed as your president. I am not one asking for solutions, If you employ me I will come with those solutions.
“So, if you honestly want to look at somebody who is detribalised and you keep away sentiments, you would vote for me.
“What should come into play is capacity to make a difference and I have that capacity to make that difference. I have been in public office, so I know what it means to administer good governance. I know what it means to run a country.”
Amaechi who also listed some of his achievements as a minister, said it takes one with a national posture and outlook to cite the numerous projects recorded in Lagos outside the South-South where he hails from.
“So, judge me by what I have done; judge me by capacity. Don’t judge me by where I come from. In this respect, I don’t come from Ikwerre. I come from Nigeria. That’s the difference between me and other aspirants. I love Nigeria,” Amaechi said.
In his response, Lagos State APC chairman, Hon. Cornelius Ojelabi, noted that there was need to collectively protect the sanctity of the party and also commended Amaechi for his courage and sagacity during the party’s formation stage.
At the Governor’s Office in Marina, Governor Sanwo-Olu welcomed the Minister of Transportation, stating that, in spite of his respect and high regard for the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaji Bola Tinubu, it is evident that Amaechi is also eminently qualified for the presidency.
“I want to say to you that you are eminently qualified and there is no doubt about that. You are very experienced in this journey.
“But for a whole lot of us in Lagos State Asiwaju Bola Tinubu continues to be our rallying point. I certainly know what your pedigree are and what you have done. I will be unfair if I don’t say that. I wish you all the very best,” Sanwo-Olu said.
On his part, the Oba of Lagos, Oba Akiolu, said: “I tell everybody, the future belongs to God. If it is efficiency, knowledge, activity, you are qualified. I pray to God Almighty to give you good health and long life.
“I tell people that the question of security of this country is not for Buhari alone. It is the responsibility of all of us. God will give us the best man who will address all our problems.
“You are very agile and honest to a fault. Remember, politicians don’t quarrel, they only disagree to agree later. God Almighty will guide you and bless you.”
