Amaechi Begins To Repair South-South Bridges

By Chuks Ekpeneru

As preparations begin for the 2023 general elections, Nigerian politicians are leaving nothing to chance to be rightly positioned.

Actors within the two major political parties, ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have already started reaching out, while permutations have reached feverish levels.

Among politicians speculated to be angling for the presidency come 2023 is current Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi.

As Chairman, Nigerian Governors Forum, he fell out with his Niger-Delta brother, Goodluck Jonathan, who by providence became President in 2010. That falling out was despite the fact that as vice-president, Amaechi was the closest to Jonathan among the South-South governors.

Amaechi later defected to the All Progressive Congress (APC), where he was a leading voice in the defeat of Jonathan.

During the crisis between him and Jonathan efforts made to reconcile both personalities failed. This was attested by fontline elder statesman and leader of South-South people, Chief Edwin Clarke, in a recent letter to Ikwerre born Minister.

Clark said: “You will recall that the leaders of the South-South People Assembly, under my leadership, made every attempt to reconcile you with former President Goodluck Jonathan, but our attempts proved abortive. Even when the revered Rev. Jesse Jackson of the United States of America intervened in the matter in 2014, you remained adamant; you rather kept away from me and some of the leaders of the South-South.

As race for 2023 begins, Amaechi may have seen need to begin to reach out and pacify people in the South-South who feel he was instrumental to the region loosing the presidency.

Recently, he called Chief Clark to congratulate on his 93rd Birthday.

It is also known that Amaechi played a key role in the decision to name the Agbor Railway Complex, the biggest railway station on the Itakpe-Warri line after Jonathan.

Clark said, “things were smooth sailing between us, until you became a ‘super Governor’ as Chairman of the Governors’ Forum at the time. You started having issues with the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, whom you felt I was supporting against you because of my stand on your attitude towards him. Since then, you completely stayed away from me, until this year when you called to congratulate and wish me a Happy 93rd Birthday

In the open letter, Clark urged Amaechi to reconcile with his kith and kin across political divides in his home state of Rivers and let bygones be bygones.

But is this enough to worm his way back to his people?

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