Mr Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, Transportation Minister and Presidential aspirant of the All Progressive Congress (APC) says he represents the ideal candidate first as the youngest with much energy and public service record that towered him above other contenders.
With his pedigree, Amaechi wants APC to present a sellable candidate for the 2023 presidential poll.
Speaking during a visit to Lagos governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at Government House, Marina, on Thursday, Amaechi urged party members in Lagos State to support his presidential aspiration by voting for him in the party’s primary slated for May in spite of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s presidential aspiration.
“It is a difficult thing to contest with our leader, he is our leader (Tinubu) and l know it is really a difficult decision that you have to take.
“He is eminently qualified to contest but l’m more qualified than him.
“I’m the bridge between the old and the young. I understand the language of the young people.
“And if we consider the reality of our current security situation, l’m the only one with experience in handling difficult security situations having served as governor at a time when kidnapping and violent crime was high in Rivers,” the minister said.
He urged the Lagos governor to take what he described as difficult decision to support him as the party’s choice and Nigeria choice.
“l come with experience of having served as speaker, l come with experience of having served as governor, l come with experience of having served as minister.
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” I was chairman of governors’ forum and l also served as Director-General in the presidential campaign that delivered victory for our party, APC.
“I have tremendous respect for our leader but we have to make the hard choice. I always say there is no second position in this contest, the party must make a winning choice. It is a hard decision but it is a decision that is doable,” Amaechi told the governor.
He was particularly excited about the Ebute Meta Railway Station in Yaba constructed by his ministry which he described as the most iconic of all.
“This is why l’m different, l’m a pan-Nigerian candidate.”
Responding, Sanwoolu noted that the minister is eminently qualified going by his records of experience.
“I have listened and l have listened very well. I’m a direct beneficiary of our leader, Asiwaju.
“For those of us in Lagos, he is our rallying point, we will continue to be the best for the country.”
Amaechi had earlier met with the Lagos State party executive committee.
The Chairman of Lagos State APC, Mr Cornelious Ojelabi, acknowledged the role Amaechi played in the events leading to the party’s victory in 2015, describing him as courageous.
He, however, said that the role played by Lagos State which he said led to the emergence of a progressive government at the federal for the first time was what gave the party its ultimate victory.
He also stressed the need for the party leaders to come together in the manner they did that led to the defeat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015.
“You are welcome to our party secretariat. You are our party member. And as for the reason for your visit which you just told us.
“There is a way we do our things in Lagos, we have a leadership and we will convey your message to the leadership.”
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