The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, who is a former governor of Rivers State, is said to be waiting for the right time before declaring his intention to contest for the APC ticket.
Our correspondent gathered that some influential northerners close to the President believe Amaechi equally played an important role in the formation of the APC and the emergence of Buhari as President in 2015.
One of the sources privy to the matter said, “You know without the pivotal role he (Amaechi) played as the chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and one of the seven governors that formed the new PDP, five of which eventually defected to the APC, there might be no APC.”
The source added, “For the President to have trusted him with his campaign as the director-general twice means a lot. Don’t also forget that he is holding a ministry whose projects are very important to the Buhari regime. It is undoubtedly a reflection of the President’s confidence in him.”
Sources said the minister was gauging the mood of the President and other power brokers to decide whether or not to throw his hat into the ring.
There are also speculations that Amaechi, who will be turbaned as Dan Amanar Daura at the Emir’s Palace in Katsina State on February 5, 2022, may use the occasion to test his popularity among the northern oligarchy.
The title, which literally means “the trusted one,” is said to be an endorsement of his closeness to the President and appreciation of his loyalty to him (Buhari) since 1998.
“The gathering at the Emir’s Palace will be a litmus test for his popularity and a kind of endorsement for his yet-to-be announced presidential ambition. The title itself is an indication that the Daura Emirate is grateful to him for some of numerous projects his ministry has sited in Katsina State,” a northern source said. (Punch)
