Buhari promised me APC Presidential ticket, put it in writing, but failed to honour it – Amaechi

Former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has alleged that the late President Muhammadu Buhari promised in writing to endorse him ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary in 2022 but failed to honour the commitment.

Join the Premium Times WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You.

Mr Amaechi, who finished second behind Bola Tinubu at the primary, said he relied on the assurance rather than negotiate political deals that could have strengthened his chances of securing the party’s nomination.

Speaking on Mainland 98.3 FM’s The Situation Room programme on Friday, the former transportation minister described his decision to trust Mr Buhari as his first mistake in the contest.

“The first mistake that I made at that primary was that I listened to President Buhari,” he said.

“He said to me, ‘Don’t campaign. Don’t do anything. I will announce you as my candidate.'”

Asked whether Mr Buhari had personally given him the assurance, Mr Amaechi said the former president had put it in writing.

“When I write my book, I will put it out,” he said.

Stay Ahead with Premium Times

Follow us on Google News and never miss breaking stories, investigations, and in-depth reporting.

Mr Amaechi, who was Mr Buhari’s campaign director-general in the 2015 and 2019 presidential elections, did not display the document or disclose when the alleged commitment was made.

Amaechi alleges religious mobilisation for Tinubu

Mr Amaechi, who is the ADC vice presidential candidate in the 2027 election, also accused Mr Tinubu of benefiting from appeals to religious identity during the contest.

He alleged that a delegation of Yoruba Muslims met governors in the North-west and urged them to support Mr Tinubu because of their shared faith.

According to him, the delegation argued that southern Muslims had supported northern Muslim candidates in previous elections and expected similar backing.

“Tinubu played on religion. I won’t play religious politics. I will never,” Mr Amaechi said.

He also referred to former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, who supported Mr Tinubu’s presidential ambition.

Mr Amaechi claimed that Mr El-Rufai had publicly linked his support for Mr Tinubu to religious considerations.

He did not identify the members of the alleged delegation or provide evidence of its discussions with the governors.

Mr Amaechi said he would not adopt a similar strategy by asking Catholic leaders to direct members of the church to support his presidential ambition.

“I wouldn’t want to go to the Catholic Church and say, please announce me, tell them that all Catholics must go out and vote Amaechi,” he said.

He argued that political campaigns built around religious identity could create divisions among Nigerians.

The 2022 APC primary

Mr Tinubu defeated 13 other aspirants at the APC presidential primary held in Abuja in June 2022.

He polled 1,271 votes, while Mr Amaechi came second with 316 votes. Then Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo finished third with 235 votes.

READ ALSO: APC accuses Atiku of hijacking ADC, tells party to resolve leadership crisis

The primary followed weeks of uncertainty over whether Mr Buhari would openly endorse a successor.

Mr Amaechi, who served as transportation minister under Mr Buhari, resigned from the cabinet to contest the party’s presidential nomination.

Although he said the late president had advised him not to campaign, he undertook consultations with delegates and political stakeholders before the primary.

He did not explain in the interview how those consultations differed from the campaigning he said Mr Buhari had discouraged.

Mr Tinubu subsequently won the February 2023 presidential election and succeeded Mr Buhari in May of that year.

Share this:

Discover more from Premium Times Nigeria

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Type your email…

Subscribe

TenTrade offers partners up to $10 per lot in referral rebates

MTN partners Omoni Oboli to unveil seven Christmas films on YouTube

Ogalah Dunamis

More News

Amaechi challenges Wike on Atiku’s Rivers campaign rally

US offers $20 million reward for information on Iran’s nuclear programme

ADC Judgement: Amaechi reveals talks with Atiku, David Mark to avert unrest

PT Health Watch: Blood grouping alone cannot guarantee safe transfusion, experts warn

Japan vs Nigeria: Six players who could decide the U-17 Women’s World Cup Final

Police detain officer after shooting leaves girl dead, another injured in Lagos