Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi has expressed his ambition to run for president in 2023.
Amaechi announced his presidential run at an All Progressives Congress (APC) gathering in Rivers State on Saturday, April 9.
The minister announced that he would run for the presidency of the party to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.
Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State and former APC National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole are among the party’s leaders in attendance.
Others include Gbemisola Saraki, the Minister of State for Transportation, as well as previous governors and lawmakers elected on the APC platform.
‘Forward With Courage’ was the title of Amaechi’s declaration speech.
“Fellow Nigerians, I stand before you today to declare my intention and submit my application to serve as your next president,” he declared to the cheers of hundreds of party faithful at the event.
“I did not come to this decision lightly, I have served our nation for the last seven years as minister of transportation.
“Eight years before that, I served as governor of Rivers State; in the preceding eight years before that, I was Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly. Within this period, I have also served as the Director-General of President (Muhammadu) Buhari’s campaign organisation twice.
“After more than two decades in the public arena, I had wanted to go on a holiday; and spend more time with my family before charting a new course outside politics; but at 56 … I am compelled by the urgency of our present challenges; to place my experience and proven capacity at the service of the nation at the highest level,” Amaechi stated.
