A presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has taken his campaign to Ondo and Oyo state to solicited for support ahead of the APC primary election. Has said he has what it takes to take Nigeria out of insecurity and other challenges facing it.
Amaechi in Akure, Ondo State, while meeting with the party delegates and visiting the state Chairman of council of Obas, the Deji of Akureland, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi and the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Olu Falae at the state APC Secretariat in Akure, noted that though other aspirants of the party were competent, but having served as councillor, speaker of the state House of Assembly for eight years, Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, NGF, and minister, he possesses qualities to lead Nigeria to overcome its security and other challenges.
He said: “Nigeria needs a detribalised, firm and effective leader. In less than one year I became the governor of Rivers State, militancy stopped in the state and the reason it stopped was that every time there was militancy, our revenue from the Federal Gvernment dropped, so we needed to look for money to develop the state, to stop the kidnapping and others.
“I have had the experience in finding lasting solution to insecurity in my state, I’m not the person they will teach because I have already known. Besides, I’m still going to learn on how we will end insecurity in our dear country. Reacting to the requests of the state Chairman of APC, Ade Adetimehin and Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, the aspirant gave an assurance that if voted in as president, he would ensure seaport for the state and the railway project through Akure would be actualised.
I’m going to give all necessary backing to fighting insecurity in order to secure the country. I also believe that if we grow the economic and support our security system, we will definitely find a lasting solution to insecurity.
Speaking also in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Monday, Amaechi said, he was not a sectional candidate as erroneously perceived in some quarters.
Amaechi, who stated this during his visit to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, in his palace in Ibadan, said he is not an endorsed candidate of any geo-political zone but simply a Nigeria candidate.
He however made reference to how he turned things around in Rivers State and made it a safe haven for both people and businesses, and also succeeded in creating alternative to criminality.
Responding, Oba Balogun eulogised the minister’s detribalised nature and said with people like him, Nigeria would be a better country.
He harped on the unity of the country, saying: “Irrespective of language, tribe or religion, we are all brothers and sisters. The minister has over the years proved to be a true Nigerian and this falls in line with my belief and activities all through my life.”
Two requests were however made to the minister by the President-General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, CCII, Prince Oluyemisi Adeaga and Senator Kola Balogun respectively, to name a railway station after an Ibadan indigene and completion of the Ibadan Inland Dry-Port of which Amaechi promised that a station would be named after an Ibadan indigene, but it won’t be within Ibadan railway corridor.
