2023: How governor who hosted Amaechi avoided endorsing him

Minister of Transportation, Hon Rotimi Amaechi, visited Jigawa State on Tuesday as part of his consultation for the 2023 presidency.

Amaechi, who joined the presidential race on Saturday, began a tour of the country on Monday.

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He visited the Emirs of Kano, Bichi and Duara on Monday and stopped over at Government House, Dutse, Jigawa, on Tuesday.

The Minister, who led a large delegation of supporters including some former and serving members of the national assembly, chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC), had earlier visited the palace of the emir of Dutse, Dr. Nuhu Muhamnad Sanusi.

His meeting with Governor Muhamnad Badaru Abubakar was brief as the governor declined to commit himself to Amaechi’s presidential ambition.

The governor said he would rather wait for the collective decision of the Nigeria’s Governors’ Forum (NGF).

He however, lauded the transportation minister for making Dutse one of the stations of the Kano-Maradi rail project being embarked upon by the federal government.

The meeting lasted barely five minutes. But in an interview with reporters, Amaechi described it as productive and friendly.

“I have come to Dutse for two reasons. The first is to inform my friend, the governor, about the rail project, which is expected to pass through Dutse to Maradi and the second reason of course, political activities have commenced, and being here I used the opportunity to inform my friend of my desire to contest the presidency of Nigeria.”

However, at the palace of the emir of Dutse, the minister stressed the need of Jigawa state to vote for him during the primaries and general elections.

The monarch, who said he has had a long relationship with the minister, described him as an honest, de-tribalised Nigerian, a man of conviction.

The emir said Amaechi made so many enemies in his political career, especially when he served as the Director-General of Buhari Campaign organisation for 2015 and 2019.

“In this country, we are concerned with other issues such as tribal and religion. But Amaechi is a true Nigerian. Amaechi, during his reign as governor accommodated people, especially the Hausa people living in Port- Harcourt.

“He built built a place of worship for the Hausa people, even though I learnt the place of worship has been demolished.”

“Amaechi is bridge builder and a man that has Nigeria at heart at all times; I am optimistic that he has all it takes to become next president of Nigeria.”

The emir then prayed Allah to guide and protect the minister as he volunteer to serve the nation in higher capacity.

In his entourage were Chairman Senate Committee on Army Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, and Rep. Suleiman Goro, representing Fagge Federal Constituency in Kano , a former chairmanship aspirant of the APC, Comrade Mustapha Salihu, amongst others.

Ndume said, they chose to support Amaechi’s aspiration because he is tested and trusted.