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I Have What It Takes To Rule Nigeria – Rotimi Amaechi
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Rotimi Amaechi says he has enough experience to rule Nigerian
- Rotimi running for Presidency out of pure passion
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that Rotimi Amaechi, the Minister of Transportation, formally declared his intention to run for president on Saturday, promising to combat insecurity and hunger in Nigeria.
Amaechi spoke at a special thanksgiving organized in his honor by the All Progressives Congress on Saturday at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Igwurita, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, a facility he built while governor.
He specifically stated that he had the necessary experience to lead Nigeria as the country’s next President, recalling his previous roles as governor, minister, and speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
In his speech titled “Forward with Courage,” Amaechi stated that “hope is around the corner.”
“I stand before you today to declare my intention and submit my application to be your next President,” he said. This was not a hasty decision for me. As Minister of Transportation, I have served our country for the past seven years. I was the governor of Rivers State for eight years before that.
“I was Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly for the previous eight years.” These 23 years of service have provided me with not only extensive experience in governance and public service, but also compassion for our dear country’s ordinary citizens.
“After more than two decades in public service, I had hoped to take a vacation and spend more time with my family before embarking on a new path away from politics. However, as a 58-year-old member of the post-independence age who has witnessed the good, the bad, and the ugly of Nigeria, I am moved by the urgency of our current difficulties to put my knowledge and proven skill to the highest possible service of the country.”
The former governor indicated that it was his moral obligation to do whatever he could in the service of the country, and that his goal was not to achieve a selfish goal.
To sustain and intensify current efforts to solve our national problems, our democracy must ensure the emergence of a leadership with broad governance experience to ensure stability and continuity.
“We need a steady hand and a passion for success in a nation that remains united to pursue prosperity for all Nigerians to sustain our democracy and preserve our unity.” I bring to the table a unique blend of experience and patriotic zeal. I’ve been involved in politics for 23 years.
“I’ve worked at every level of government, including local, state, and federal.” I’ve served as a political appointee as well as an elected official. “I have served as an executive – as Rivers State’s governor – and as a legislator – as Speaker of the State House of Assembly,” he emphasized.
“In these capacities, I did not simply fill vacant posts,” the minister added. As Speaker, I oversaw the legislative process during a difficult transition from military to civilian rule. As governor, I was able to put an end to mercantile militancy and restore security. As a minister, I can modestly claim that I have justified Nigerians’ trust.”
Today, I am running for President because I share the same passion for people and the same drive for results. More than ever, I am driven by a desire to make a significant difference in the lives of all Nigerians.
Amaechi, who urged the crowd to observe a minute of silence in memory of those killed in the Abuja-Kaduna train attack, bemoaned the country’s insecurity, unemployment, and hunger.
“As a country, we are facing some serious challenges. These are insecurity issues, challenges to greater accountability in governance, youth unemployment, and the scourge of spiral poverty.
“Poverty has become a global issue, particularly in developing countries. The Covid crisis has imposed unexpected burdens on national budgets and put a strain on available resources.
“Regardless of the darts and arrows that come my way, I will stand firm because the stakes are too high.” We simply cannot afford to fail. We can’t afford to deviate from the path.
“I pledge my heart, mind, and soul to the task of constructing a Nigeria in which every child can go to school, every young person can find work or receive assistance to start a business, every citizen can travel safely throughout the country and sleep at night knowing that law and order prevails, and every Nigerian feels included, heard, and respected.”
The road ahead will be long and arduous. But we go forward with faith,” Amaechi stated.
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In his speech, Plateau State Governor and Chairman, Northern Governors Forum, Simeon Lalong, recalled that one of the zonal campaigns when APC was first created started in Rivers State.
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