Amaechi Unveils Presidential Vision: Key Plans if Elected Under ADC Platform

Nigeria needs a new political direction focused on reducing poverty, creating jobs, ensuring accountability, and upholding the rule of law, according to Rotimi Amaechi, the former Minister of Transportation and ex-governor of Rivers State, as he steps up consultations ahead of the 2027 presidential election under the African Democratic Congress, ADC.

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Amaechi made this statement during a televised interview on Arise Television, where he emphasized that Nigerians should evaluate political leaders based on their performance and track records, rather than ethnic or regional sentiments.

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He believes the 2027 election should serve as a referendum on all political actors seeking office, and Nigerians have the right to assess him based on his performance, having held various positions including governor, minister, speaker, and chairman of the Governors’ Forum.

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Amaechi acknowledged that the Buhari administration, which he helped bring to power in 2015 as part of the All Progressives Congress, APC, coalition, has had its successes, but also fell short in meeting several expectations, with some areas of success and others of failure.

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He compared the current state of the country to the past, stating that despite some achievements, things are now much worse, and linked rising insecurity to worsening poverty, unemployment, and economic hardship, which drives many young people to crime due to lack of opportunities.

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Amaechi emphasized that circumstances and environment force people into crime, and proposed that creating jobs and providing alternatives to criminality is the solution, as nobody is born a terrorist.

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He suggested large-scale social housing and mechanised agriculture as strategies to stimulate employment and reduce insecurity if elected president, citing the example of building 300,000 houses in Kano, which would engage many masons, carpenters, contractors, and labourers.

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Amaechi also criticized the management of funds saved from fuel subsidy removal, alleging that ordinary Nigerians have yet to feel the impact, and that hunger is increasing across the country despite the potential benefits of the policy.

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Reflecting on his tenure as governor of Rivers State, Amaechi highlighted his administration's investments in education, healthcare, roads, and power infrastructure, including building modern primary schools, reducing classroom overcrowding, and employing over 13,000 teachers.

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He also established healthcare centres and expanded power generation capacity during his tenure, and pledged to support whoever emerges as the ADC presidential candidate, provided the process is transparent and credible.

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Amaechi urged Nigerians to defend their votes during elections and resist electoral manipulation, and asked for their support, promising to reduce poverty and crime, as he had done previously in Rivers State.