Minister of Transportation Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has lashed
out at the Vice Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) Mr. Peter Obi for saying that he (Amaechi) is not politically
relevant to discuss whether Igbos should have the Presidency in 2023 or
not.
Amaechi who spoke on the sidelines, at an Interactive forum of Maritime
Stakeholders in Lagos, on Tuesday, said the former Anambra State
Governor does not have the credibility to speak on the matter because he
could not win the Presidential election.
According to Amaechi, “Peter Obi said I’m not an Igbo man and that I
don’t have the locus to discuss whether Igbo Presidency will be or not
in 2023. That comment is a very sad and cheap one from him…..”
“But the truth is that Peter Obi too does not have the locus to speak
about Igbo Presidency because he and his party couldn’t win the
Presidential election. Aside from that, it’s most unfortunate that Peter
Obi, a man I defeated to become the Chairman of Nigeria Governors
Forum(NGF), when we were both governors, can wake up today to say I am
not relevant in the polity to talk about national issues when
journalists ask me questions about it.”
Amaechi also said right from when he became Speaker of the Rivers State
House of Assembly till date his name has been in the front burner of
national politics far more than Peter Obi.
Amaechi said that for the Igbos to get the Presidency in 2023, they must
be part of “National Politics”.
“I think what is important which I have said to the Igbos severally is
that they need to be part of National Politics. If they are not part of
National Politics they cannot be President. National Politics means that
an Ikwerre man must have his interest covered by the Igbos If they want
to be President. The Yoruba man must have the Igbos cover their
interests, the Hausa, Fulani people must also be confident that their
interests are covered by the Igbos”.
“I support Igbo Presidency. I believe that It’s the Igbo turn to produce
the next President of Nigeria because they have not been there before.
The country will be unfair to the Igbos If they say It’s not their turn.
But It can’t be your turn and you don’t want to fight for it. You want
us to wake you up from sleep and say come and take, it is your turn? It
doesn’t work like that and It will not work that way. So, Peter Obi
should close his mouth. He lost an election which I won and that’s why
President Buhari, not Atiku will be sworn-In tomorrow as President”, he
explained.