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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Elections & Politics

Amaechi claims credit for Buhari’s 2015 victory, downplays Tinubu’s role

From The Punch · () English

Summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Former Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi claims he, not Bola Tinubu, was instrumental in Muhammadu Buhari's 2015 presidential victory.
  • Amaechi stated he could not publicly refute Tinubu's claims while serving as a minister under Buhari, fearing dismissal.
  • He asserted his role as campaign director-general and leader of the Governors' Forum in securing Buhari's win, positioning himself for a 2027 presidential bid.

Former Rivers State Governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has asserted that he, rather than President Bola Tinubu, played the decisive role in Muhammadu Buhari's ascent to the presidency in 2015. Amaechi made these claims during a recent interview on Arise News' Prime Time, addressing long-standing assertions by Tinubu that Buhari would not have won without his support.

When we decided to form the APC, while I was a minister, (Tinubu) was claiming he made Buhari president and I couldn’t respond because I was a minister under President Buhari. That would have been suicidal because Buhari could fire you.

· Rotimi AmaechiAmaechi explaining why he did not publicly challenge Tinubu's claims about making Buhari president.

Amaechi explained that during his tenure as a minister under Buhari, he was constrained from publicly challenging Tinubu's narrative. He described such a move as "suicidal" due to the risk of being dismissed by President Buhari. "So I couldn’t have said, ‘You are wrong.’ He didn’t make President Buhari president," Amaechi stated, emphasizing his own pivotal role.

He highlighted his position as the Director-General of Buhari's 2015 and 2019 presidential campaigns, alongside his leadership of the Governors' Forum. Amaechi recounted crisscrossing the country to rally support for Buhari, framing his efforts as the primary driver of the "change" Nigerians sought. His involvement was crucial in the 2013-2014 defection of PDP governors, which facilitated the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) alliance that ultimately defeated President Goodluck Jonathan.

He didn’t make President Buhari president. Not only was I the DG of the campaign, but everybody will bear witness that I did all the battle.

· Rotimi AmaechiAmaechi asserting his primary role in Buhari's 2015 presidential victory.

While acknowledging Tinubu's instrumental role in merging opposition parties to form the APC, Amaechi's remarks aim to reframe the historical narrative. These comments come as Amaechi positions himself for the 2027 presidential race under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), signaling his intent to be a significant opposition figure.

I led the Governors’ Forum, criss-crossed the country fighting here and there trying to get Nigerians to know that this is the time for change.

· Rotimi AmaechiAmaechi detailing his campaign efforts for Buhari.
About this summary

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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