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Rotimi Amaechi

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Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi CON (born 27 May 1965) is a Nigerian politician, who served as the federal minister of transportation of Nigeria from 2015 to 2022 under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.[1] He resigned to contest for Nigeria's presidency under the governing All Progressive Congress (APC).[2] He had previously served as governor of oil-rich Rivers State, from 2007 to 2015 and earlier, as speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly from 1999 to 2007.[3] On 9 April 2022, Amaechi declared interest to contest in the presidential election in 2023. He polled second position in the APC presidential primaries held in June 2022 behind eventual president Bola Tinubu with 316 delegate votes against Tinubu's 1271 votes.[4]

Right Honourable
Rotimi Amaechi
CON
Minister of Transportation
In office
21 August 2019 – 16 May 2022
PresidentMuhammadu Buhari
Preceded byhimself
Succeeded byMu'azu Jaji Sambo
In office
11 November 2015 – 28 May 2019
PresidentMuhammadu Buhari
Preceded byAudu Idris Umar
Succeeded byhimself
Governor of Rivers State
In office
25 October 2007 – 29 May 2015
DeputyTele Ikuru
Preceded byCelestine Omehia
Succeeded byEzenwo Nyesom Wike
Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly
In office
2 June 1999 – 4 June 2007
Personal details
Born
Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi

(1965-05-27) 27 May 1965 (age 59)
Ikwerre, Eastern Region (now in Rivers State), Nigeria
Political partyAll Progressives Congress (2014–present)
Other political
affiliations		Peoples Democratic Party (1999–2014)
SpouseJudith Amaechi
Children3
Education
Alma mater
Occupation
  • Politician
  • lawyer

Background

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Amaechi was born in Ubima Community, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State to the family of the late Elder Fidelis Amaechi and Mary Amaechi. His first and last names are Igbo meaning “God is strength or power” and “who knows tomorrow” respectively.[5][6] He was raised in Diobu, a densely populated neighbourhood in Port Harcourt.[7][8]

Amaechi had his primary education at St. Theresa's Primary School from 1970 to 1976. He later earned his West African Senior School Certificate in 1982 from Government Secondary School, Okolobiri. Amaechi received a Bachelor of Arts degree (Honours) in English Studies and Literature from the University of Port Harcourt in 1987, where he was the president of the National Union of Rivers State Students (NURSS).

He completed the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in 1988, and thereafter joined Pamo Clinics and Hospitals Limited owned by Peter Odili, where he worked until 1992. He was also a director of several companies, including West Africa Glass Industry Limited and Risonpalm Nigeria Limited.

Early political career

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During the transition to the Third Nigerian Republic, Amaechi was secretary of the National Republican Convention in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State. Between 1992 and 1994, he was special assistant to the deputy governor of Rivers State, Peter Odili, his boss believed in Amaechi as a young man with potential in politics and brought him under his wing. In 1996, he was the Rivers State's secretary of the Democratic Party of Nigeria (DPN) caretaker committee during the transition programme of General Sani Abacha.[9]

Rivers State House of Assembly (1999–2007)

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Further information: 4th Rivers State House of Assembly and 5th Rivers State House of Assembly

In 1999, he contested and won a seat to become a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly to represent his constituency. He was subsequently elected speaker of the House of Assembly. Amaechi was elected chairman of Nigeria's Conference of Speakers of State Assemblies. In May 2003, he was re-elected speaker. In 2003, when the National Assembly moved to hijack the legislative functions of the State House of Assembly as enshrined in the constitution, he and his colleagues took the matter to the Supreme Court.

As speaker, Amaechi used his close working relationship with Governor Peter Odili to increase the harmonious relationship between the executive and legislative arms of government in Rivers State, until he launched a campaign against the state government, and verbally attacked the image of the state governor, in an effort to succeed Odili as governor in 2007.

Governor of Rivers State

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In 2007, Amaechi contested and won the People's Democratic Party (PDP) primary for Rivers State Governor in 2007. His name was substituted by the party, an action which he challenged in court. The case eventually got to the Supreme Court. He became governor on 26 October 2007, after the Supreme Court ruled that he was the rightful candidate of the PDP and winner of the April 2007 governorship election in Rivers State.

His administration invested in infrastructure development, construction of roads and bridges, sticking to the vision of connecting all parts of the state by road. The governor was also committed to urban renewal and modernization of transportation services. His administration began building a monorail to provide mass transportation within the city of Port Harcourt.[10] Some power plant projects (Afam, Trans Amadi, Onne) were also built to improve power supply in the State.[11]

He was re-elected for a second term on 26 April 2011. In August 2013, Amaechi was amongst seven serving governors who formed the G-7 faction within the PDP. In November 2013, Amaechi alongside five members of the G-7 defected to the new opposition party the All Progressives Congress (APC) where he became the director general of Muhammadu Buhari's presidential campaign.[12]

Minister of Transportation

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In 2015, following Buhari's election, Amaechi was appointed to his cabinet as federal minister of transportation. In July 2019, he was re-nominated for ministerial appointment by President Buhari.[13] Amaechi was asked to take a bow and go during his screening by the Senate.[14][15]

Corruption allegations

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Since leaving office in 2015, Amaechi has been the subject of corruption allegations by his successor Nyesom Wike.[16] Wike accused him of using state funds to finance President Muhammadu Buhari's campaign during the 2015 presidential election through the sale of Rivers state-owned oil and gas assets,[17] and fraudulently misappropriating the proceeds of the sale amounting to US$309 million.[18] Amaechi has persistently denied the allegations against him.[19] In 2018, he acknowledged that despite Buhari's anti-corruption war corruption still exists within the administration.[20]

Controversy over fraud again in 2022

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In May 2022, the Supreme Court of Nigeria granted the Rivers State panel of enquiry to probe Amaechi over an alleged ₦96 billion fraud.[21]

Personal life

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He is married to Judith Amaechi and they have three boys.[22] He is a Catholic and a Knight of the order of Saint John (KSJ).[23][24]

On 27 May 2021, Amaechi released his debut single titled 'Blessed The People The Lord Has Chosen As His Heritage' in collaboration with his wife, Judith in commemoration of his 56th birthday.[25] On 19 November 2022, Amaechi announced on his Twitter handle that he is now a certified graduate of law alongside pictures of his convocation.[26]

Awards

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Amaechi holds the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).[citation needed]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Buhari Congratulates Amaechi, Danu On Daura chieftaincy titles". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 5 February 2022. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  2. ^ "Amaechi resigns as minister, seeks Buhari's support". Premium Times Nigeria. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  3. ^ "Governor of Rivers State". Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  4. ^ "JUST IN: Amaechi declares presidential ambition". Vanguard News. 9 April 2022. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  5. ^ Ukpong, Michael (11 December 2015). Igbo Culture and Gospel. LIT Verlag Münster. p. 115. ISBN 3643905297.
  6. ^ Okoroike, Columbus (2009). Igbos of Nigeria and Their Cultural Ways:Aspects of Behavior, Attitudes, Customs, Language and Social Life. iUniverse. p. 171. ISBN 0595621406.
  7. ^ "The story of Port Harcourt city". Vanguardngr.com. Vanguard Media. 18 November 2013. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  8. ^ Abia, Daniel. "2015 and Rivers' banana politics". Daily Independent. Archived from the original on 25 May 2014. Retrieved 25 May 2014.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  9. ^ Admin. "#OBFocus! Rotimi Amaechi- Honorable Minister for Transportation, Federal Republic of Nigeria". Onebello. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  10. ^ "Governor of Rivers State". Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  11. ^ Edozie, Victor. "Rivers' Multi-billion Naira Power Project Rots Away". Daily Trust. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  12. ^ "Buhari Reappoints Amaechi Campaign DG". THISDAYLIVE. 20 September 2018. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  13. ^ "Full list of Buhari's ministerial nominees". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  14. ^ "Amaechi, Akpabio, Four Others 'Take A Bow' As Senate Screens Ministerial Nominees". Channels Television. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  15. ^ "Ngige, Amaechi, Sirika, others retain portfolios". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  16. ^ "Amaechi fires back: Wike corrupt; I won't appear before his commission". Vanguard News. 30 August 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  17. ^ Ukpong, Cletus (31 July 2017). "We have overwhelming evidence of corruption against Amaechi, says Wike | Premium Times Nigeria". Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  18. ^ Ukpong, Cletus (31 July 2017). "We have overwhelming evidence of corruption against Amaechi, says Wike | Premium Times Nigeria". Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  19. ^ Opejobi, Seun (30 April 2017). "I'm not corrupt, don't like money - Amaechi [VIDEO]". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  20. ^ "Amaechi: I'd be foolish to say there's no corruption under Buhari". TheCable. 16 February 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  21. ^ Taiwo, Jide (27 May 2022). "Supreme Court gives go ahead for the probe of Rotimi Amaechi on alleged N96 billion fraud". NewsWireNGR. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  22. ^ "Encomium trails Dame Judith Amaechi @ 50". Vanguard. 15 December 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
  23. ^ "New Catholic Honour Tasks Amaechi to Hit the Mark". This Day. 21 August 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  24. ^ "Rotimi Amaechi Gets Highest Catholic Knights Promotion". Archived from the original on 19 August 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  25. ^ "Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi & Family – Blessed The People The Lord Has Chosen As His Heritage". Dripnaija. 27 May 2021. Archived from the original on 1 June 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  26. ^ "Amaechi graduates with law degree". Premium Times. 20 November 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
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