“I am not a politician” – Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Transportation denies his only profession on National TV

Rotimi Amaechi, the Minister of Transportation, on Saturday said Nigerians should stop distracting him with 2023 politics.

Amaechi said he is not a politician, hence should be allowed to carry out his duties as a minister.

The former governor of Rivers State, who appeared on Arise Television was reacting to questions on his purported 2023 presidential ambition.

The minister pointed out that he was currently focused on ensuring that railway projects are delivered across Nigeria.

Amaechi said mischief-makers misinterpreted his recent visit to Taraba State for a wedding mean the flag-off of his presidential campaign.

According to Amaechi: “I went to Taraba for a wedding. At the end of the wedding, if you see plenty news that was out of Taraba. Mischievously, it was reported that I went to campaign, campaign to do what?

“The election is about two years plus away, am I that rich even if I have ambition? I have told you, can you people allow me do my work?

“I am the Minister for Transport and that is my responsibility, nobody should keep talking to me about politics, that was why I said on several occasions that I am not a politician. Please allow me do my work.”

Here’s a bit of his Political background..

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 then 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.

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 as the Speaker of the House of Assembly. Amaechi was elected the Chairman of Nigeria’s Conference of Speakers of State Assemblies. In May 2003, he was re-elected as the 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 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 when Rotimi Amaechi launched a campaign against the State Government, and verbally attacked the image of the State Governor, in an effort to succeed Peter Odili as governor in 2007.