Amaechi Vows To Scrap Federal Character, Replace Indigeneship With Citizenship

Amaechi Vows To Scrap Federal Character, Replace Indigeneship With Citizenship
Former minister promises citizenship system over indigeneship politics nationwide
Amaechi says Nigerians should be judged by competence and performance

Former Minister of Transportation and presidential aspirant of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rotimi Amaechi, has declared that he would abolish the federal character principle and replace indigeneship with citizenship if elected president in 2027.

EDITOR’S PICKS

EKO HOT BLOG reports that Amaechi made the declaration on Wednesday after appearing before the ADC Presidential Screening Committee in Abuja.

The former Rivers State governor said Nigeria must move away from identity-based politics and embrace a system driven by competence, fairness and equal citizenship.

According to him, Nigerians should be assessed based on performance and capacity rather than ethnicity, religion or regional affiliation.

“There will be no federal character. A very good Nigerian will be a member of the Federation.

“Federal character is there because the system is unfair. So, it is one way to manage the system,” Amaechi said in a statement issued to journalists after the screening exercise.

The former governor also blamed worsening insecurity and rising cases of kidnapping on unemployment and economic hardship, arguing that many young people were turning to crime because of the country’s failing economic system.

Amaechi urged Nigerians to evaluate presidential aspirants based on their records in public office rather than ethnic sentiments.

“Assess us by what we’ve done and reach a conclusion rather than hearing I am from North. I’m from South. I am from East.

“I am not from South, East or West. I am a Nigerian. If I become president, I will not bring indigeneship. There will be citizenship,” he stated.

He also criticised politicians who rely on ethnic and religious appeals to gain political support.

Speaking on the possibility of accepting a vice-presidential slot, Amaechi dismissed the idea.

“I don’t want to be vice,” he said.

However, the former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly maintained that he would respect the decision of the party if the ADC eventually adopts a consensus candidate through a transparent process accepted by all aspirants.

“I am a member of the party now. If that’s the party decision, once it is a process that all of participate in,” he added.

Amaechi also expressed confidence in his chances at the screening, citing his experience in governance and public administration.

“The requirements for governorship are almost same requirements for the presidency,” he said.

Highlighting his achievements as Rivers State governor, Amaechi pointed to reforms in education and healthcare.

“I was governor of Rivers State and I rebuilt education to standard such that people were leaving from private schools to government schools.

“We built health infrastructure and employed 400 doctors. We add 200 to make it 600. And then, we pursued free healthcare,” he stated.

Amaechi Vows To Scrap Federal Character, Replace Indigeneship With Citizenship

According to him, the healthcare programme allowed patients to receive treatment while the government paid hospitals directly, adding that primary healthcare centres staffed with doctors and nurses were established across communities.