By Eze Chukwuemeka Eze
“To state that Rt. Hon. (Dr) Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi,
the uncommon Director General of the Presidential Campaign Organization of
President Buhari, has redefined politics in Nigeria and become the first
African to lead a political party to two successful electoral victories, is not
only legendary, historical but epochal. It is in this context that I will like
to critically examine the comment of Senator Magnus Abe, the senator
representing the Rivers South-East Senatorial District at the National Assembly
in a recent statement, saying that I have singlehandedly created a superhuman
being out of Amaechi. So the main task of this treatise is to examine if this
man, Amaechi, is truly a superhuman or not.” – Eze
Preamble
Against every known
permutation, false prophecy, propaganda and plot by those who have arrogated
powers to themselves and have succeeded in becoming the determinant forces to,
deciding who rules or governs in Nigeria, and to the chagrin of this special breed
of Nigerians, President Muhammadu Buhari, during the just concluded
presidential election, polled 15,191,847 votes to defeat his closest opponent
and the favorite of powers that were, Alhaji Atiku abubakar, presidential
candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who polled 11,262,978 votes. A
feat described as the beginning of the downfall of the powerful, noisy class
and the rebirth of a new Nigeria, where corruption will be formally buried and
a system where all Nigerians will be a stakeholder.
This period in Nigeria,
occasioned by the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari during the 2019 general
elections, has become a period of celebration and sending of congratulatory
messages both to President Muhammadu Buhari and of course to this enigma and divine
tool (Amaechi), whom God has used to emphasize that power truly belongs to Him
and not to any ordinary human being, particularly those who were opportune to
have had the grace to take Nigeria to greatness, but rather chose to loot the
common patrimony of this nation, the choice which had qualified them to be
considered as gods and determining forces of what office others can either
aspire to or be appointed to.
Though I have in two
separate press statements congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on his
victory at the polls, the idea of embarking upon this treatise came when I was
contemplating on how to join other national and world leaders to congratulate
Rt. Hon. (Dr) Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi for leading the campign for the
reelection of President Buhari on 23rd February, 2019, second time (he achieved
similar feat in 2015 general elections in his capacity as the undisputable and
uncommon Director General of the Presidnt Muhammadu Buhari Campaign
Organisation).
THE CRUX OF THIS TREATISE,
X-RAYING AMAECHI AS A SUPERHUMAN BEING
To state that Rt. Hon.
(Dr) Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the uncommon Director General of the Presidential
Campaign Organization of President Buhari, has redefined politics in Nigeria
and become the first African to lead a political party to two successful
electoral victories, is not only legendary, historical but epochal. It is in
this context that I will like to critically examine the comment of Senator
Magnus Abe, the senator representing the Rivers South-East Senatorial District
at the National Assembly in a recent statement, saying that I have
singlehandedly created a superhuman being out of Amaechi. So the main task of
this treatise is to examine if this man, Amaechi, is truly a superhuman or not.
According to Senator
Magnus Abe in the said statement, in his attempt to run me down, he stated and
I quote, "...political mercenaries, and conflict entrepreneurs like
Chief Eze, who has no ward or polling unit in Rivers state, has continually
misled the Minister of Transportation into the false belief that he was a
SUPERMAN and every contrary voice in the party must be crushed..." -
Senator Magnus Abe.
I will not concern myself
with some of the misconceptions about me as contained in Senator Abe’s text
above, at the appropriate time I will formally react to some of his innuendos
on me. I will concentrate on the main issue of this treatise, which is to
examine if Amaechi is a superhuman or not.
Before attempting this
treatise, let me highlight the mystery behind the names of Amaechi that may
assist us in this task of revealing if there are divine forces behind some of
the feats of this misunderstood leader of our time that qualifies him to his
new status as a superhuman. First, Chibuike, which means ‘God is all
Powerful’ and Rotimi, an abridged version of Oluwadurotimi, meaning ‘the Lord
stands by me’, while Amaechi means ‘who knows tomorrow?’ Remember the popular
phrase; what is in a name? One does not need to be a sage to know that all the
meanings embedded in his name are playing out in the acts and arts of politics
in Amaechi’s life. God in his infinite mystery and wisdom has continued to
demonstrate his POWER Chibuike, (God is all Powerful) in all the
acts and activities of this enigma. Even when it seems that the tide is against
him, God announces his presence and prove that he is besides Rotimi (the
Lord stands by me)
No matter your school of
thought or political leaning, it will be foolhardy to pin or postulate the
future of Amaechi (who knows tomorrow?’) as most of his movements defies
understanding by any common mind.
With this mystery behind
Amaechi's name revealed, there maybe some elements of truth in Abe's fear that
this man is truly a superhuman.
To Vishal Chipkar, 'Superhuman'
is an extraordinary personality, living in the godliness and wisdom taking over
the human intelligence, a pure eternal life, driven by the divine force, living
for the welfare of the mankind unconditionally. Superhuman are those who live
to unite with the Supreme Power.”
Truly, in line with Vishal
Chipkar, and Senator Abe’s assumptions, whether it is positive or mockery, the
fact remains that Amaechi’s life is driven by nothing but by divine force, if
not which ordinary human being can survive the betrayals and plots against the
political future of a single fellow that Amaechi have suffered in the hands of
those who rode through his back to whatever they are today politically in
Nigeria
In examining the word
SUPERHUMAN as contained in Abe's quote, let me ask, can an ordinary human
being, under the normal circumstance in which Amaechi finds himself in 2014,
accept to direct the Campaign Organisation of Genersl Muhammadu Buhari (GMB) ,
who had failed presidential bids for about three times? Of course the answer is
no, unless you are a superhuman being. That makes Abe's thought; that Amaechi
is a superhuman, a reality. In support of this, Criss Jami, coming to my aid,
stated “in the land where excellence is commended, not envied, where weakness
is aided, not mocked, there is no question as to how its inhabitants are all
superhuman.”. Amaechi by the grace of God and special touch have proven that he
who God is with reigns in the realm of superhuman.
Secondly, with the
decamping of most of his associates that followed him from PDP to assist other
progressive minds to form APC in 2014, like the Senate President, Srnator
Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representative, Hon Yakubu Dogara,, Gov
Aminu Tambuwual of Sokoto State , Senator Kwankwaso, General
Olusegun Obasanjo, the dreaded General Danjuma, most of the key political
blocks including numerous retired Army Generals supporting the opposition,
coupled with some misguided church leaders who don't know the voice of God
prophesying on daily basis how President Muhammadu Buhari will die while
campaigning or losing the 2019 general elections woefully, it takes a
superhuman being like Amaechi to accept to once again coordinate the campaign
organization of a sitting president, so hated and abused by the crop of
Nigerians that have looted this country with impunity and ready to spend
whatever at their disposal to ensure that he is not reelected. Jason Reynolds,
considering the true strength of Amaechi, stated “having a superpower has
nothing to do with the ability to fly or jump, or superhuman strength. The
truest superpowers are the ones we all possess: willpower, integrity and most
importantly, courage. And to the glory of God Amaechi has the qualities
(willpower, integrity and most importantly, courage).in quantum.
In Nigeria, we have had
several Ministers of Transportation, but it takes a superhuman like Amaechi to
dream of connecting the 36 state capitals of Nigeria through rail and the
revolution that this superhuman have ignited through his rail revolution is one
of the major feats of this administration.
PROPHECIES ON THE 2019
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
Apostle Omotosho Tope, of
the OTJ Live Ministry falsely prophesied that the Peoples Democratic Party,
PDP, would take over and experience victory in the elections.
The founder and General
Overseer of the Omega Fire Ministry, Apostle Johnson falsely predicted that,,
“I saw most Eastern states won by APC at the National level.” This did not
happen. However, the reverse was the case as the president failed in all the
Eastern States.
According to a renowned
prophet and Founder, Evangelical Church of Yahweh Worldwide, Primate Theophilus
Olabayo, “For the coming 2019 general elections, it will be men fighting men,
and not boys fighting men because Buhari, and APC would want to use power of
incumbency to influence the elections, but Atiku will not agree. They are going
to fight each other, and the elections will be inconclusive. However, the
election was not declared inconclusive but rather, President Buhari was
announced as the winner.
On his party, a South
African based Pastor identified as Pastor Samuel Akinbodunse, said that God
told him that President Muhammadu Buhari would not see 2019 elections. In a
viral video on Twitter, the pastor said, “Warn Buhari that he is going beyond
his boundary. That the Lord said his tenure is once. Not twice. If not, he’ll
not see the election.“Tell him, if you know him or you know how to email the
Presidency of Nigeria. Please write him a test. If he makes a mistake to
campaign for the election, before the vote he’ll die. And I’m saying the truth.
Buhari not only contested the election but won and he is still living.
On the other hand, the founder and General Overseer of the Synagogue
Church of All Nations, SCOAN, Prophet TB Joshua, said, “The election will be
closely contested between the two leading political parties but I see Muhammadu
Buhari winning.”
While Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, the spiritual director,
Adoration Ministry, Enugu Nigeria endorsed President Buhari to win the
election.
Also, the prophet with Global Gospel Mandate, Bro.
Joshua Iginla in his 2019 prophecies said that result of the presidential
election will not be accepted by the opposition The Prophet, however, urged the
opposition to accept the result and seek redress in court.According to him, “It
is obvious; the results will not be accepted. But let’s pray that the outcome
should not put this country in a snare.
Also, the Senior Pastor and General Overseer of
Zionwealth of Life Assembly, ZOLA, Apostle Chris Omatsola had prophesied that
nothing will come out of Atiku’s partnership with Peter Obi, his running mate
because it’s not of the “Lord”.as APC will have great victory in 2019 election
as Buhari will win his re-election bid.Omatsola said: “President Muhammadu
Buhari is God’s mandate for 2019. God said he is giving President Buhari
another opportunity to make History.
PROFILING RT HON CHIBUIKE
ROTIMI AMAECHI, CON, HON MINISTER OF TRANSPORTATION
Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi,
who was on Nov. 11, 2015 sworn-in as Nigeria’s Honourable Minister of
Transportation, was born in Ubima, Ikwerre Local Government Area of
Rivers State, to the family of late Elder Fidelis Amaechi and Mrs. Mary
Amaechi. University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Rivers State, was where Amaechi
laid the foundation of his political life, participating actively in student union
politics, especially in the National Union of Rivers State Students (NURSS), of
which he was president, and the National Association of Nigerian Students
(NANS). After graduation, he cut his teeth in politics as secretary of the now
defunct National Republican Convention (NRC) in Ikwerre Local Government Area
of Rivers State, from 1992 to 1994 he was Special Assistant to Dr Peter Odili,
then deputy governor of Rivers State; member of the Board of West Africa Glass
Industry as well as Risonpalm Nigeria Limited. He was secretary of the
Caretaker Committee of the Rivers State Chapter of the disbanded Democratic
Party of Nigeria (DPN) in 1996 during the transition programme of the Gen Sani
Abacha junta.
In 1999, Amaechi
contested and won a seat to become a member of the Rivers State House of
Assembly to represent his constituency. He was subsequently elected Speaker of
the House of Assembly as well as Chairman of Nigeria’s Conference of Speakers
of State Assemblies. He was re-elected into the State House of Assembly in May
2003 and equally re-elected Speaker. A master’s degree holder, Amaechi’s
assumption of office as governor of Rivers State, based on a Supreme Court
judgement after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) dumped him, despite his
convincingly winning the party’s gubernatorial ticket, remains a mystery to
many political watchers in the country. He was a two time Governor of Rivers
State and two time Chairman of Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).
His unprecedented feats in the transformation of Rivers State have won him many
international and local awards as well as the respect of great world and
Nigerian leaders.
Amaechi was the rallying
force behind mobilising the governors under PDP to support the presidential
aspiration of Dr Goodluck Jonathan during the PDP Presidential Primaries that
produced Jonathan as the PDP flag-bearer and during the 2011 presidential
election proper ensured that President Jonathan got over 2 million votes from
Rivers State – the highest by any state in Nigeria then. A misunderstood but an
amiable personality; his forthrightness and boldness to stand by the truth
attracts so much enemies to him, particularly those who cannot withstand his
manner of approach to result-oriented feats. His numerous ‘sins’ will be highlighted
later.
Amaechi, holder of the
National honour of the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), is a
Christian of the Catholic faith where he is a Knight of St John. Amaechi was
appointed Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC)
Presidential Campaign. The team led the party to victory in the March 28, 2015
presidential election in which a sitting president was roundly defeated for the
first time. He is the incumbent Minister of Transportation.
In his capacity as the
Minister for Transportation of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he has
redefined the transportation system in Nigeria with gigantic and unique feats
uncommon in the rail system in the country. His plot to link up all the most
key State capitals in Nigeria through rail system .is a feat that have change
the thinking of many Nigerians towards the administration of President
Muhammadu Buhari that influenced in the victory of APC in the 2019 general
elections.
He successfully led the
Presidential Campaign Organization of President Buhari to victory, a
feat unobtainable in any party of Africa for an individual to led a Presidential
Campaign Organization to two victories back to back.
PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI
AND HIS QUESTS FOR THE NIGERIAN PRESIDENCY
President Muhammadu
Buhari, GCFR, was born on December 17, 1942. He was at various times Military
Administrator of the defunct North Eastern State (now Borno and Yobe states)
from July 1975 to February 1976; Federal Commissioner of Petroleum and Natural
Resources from March 1976 – June 1978; and Head of the Federal Military
Government from 1984-85. He later became Chairman of a major interventionist
initiative, Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF). A respected elder statesman and one of
the few celebrated saints in Nigeria and the only Nigerian who have contested
for president of Nigeria three consecutive times but won on the fourth attempt.
His first shot at the number one position was in 2003 against then then
President Olusegun Obasanjo during his second term; and in 2007, he ran against
Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua (now late) and in 2011, he contested against Dr. Goodluck
Jonathan, all of the Peoples Democratic Party. He lost all the three elections.
And on his fourth attempt in 2015, on the platform of the All Progressives
Congress (APC), an amalgam of major opposition parties, he defeated an
incumbent President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan to emerge the President of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria. A feat he repeated on 23rdFebruary,
2019 when he defeated Alh/ Atiku Abubakar of PDP to emerge once again the
President of Nigeria..
THE SECOND TERM AS
BUHARI’S PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN ORGANIZATION DIRECTOR GENERAL AND THE OBSTACLES
On January 3, 2018, both
local and international media organisations were awash with the news of the
appointment of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi since December, 2017 as the
Director General of President Buhari 2019 presidential campaign. That marked
the strongest indication that the Nigerian leader would seek re-election in
2019.
Immediately after the
announcement of Amaechi’s appointment, those who didn’t want him as DG went to
work to ensure that it was reversed.
Some APC stakeholders
reportedly opposed to the re-appointment of Rotimi Amaechi as President
Buhari’s campaign director general in the 2019 re-election bid moved into
action. They argued that as a sitting governor and chairman of the Nigerian
Governors’ Forum (NGF) when he held the position of director-general of the
Buhari Campaign Organisation in 2015, Amaechi had enormous power which is not
so now that he is just a member of cabinet.
The move against Amaechi
as the president’s campaign DG is being anchored on a narrative that the
position should be held by a serving governor.
But they failed to
understand that majority of APC governors, ministers and members of the
National Assembly were already working with Amaechi to advance the re-election
of Mr. President.
One of the reasons Amaechi
is being opposed is this rumour that he has a presidential ambition in 2023 and
that as Buhari’s campaign manager, he would leverage on the connections.
The struggle of Amaechi
retaining his office as the DG of Buhari Campaign Organisation was laid to rest
on 1st August, 2018 when he conducted President Buhari round the proposed
Campaign Office in Abuja.
Although, in the unfolding
scenario, Amaechi’s major concern is to prospect for Buhari’s re-election, yes,
an encore, yet the possibilities of a repeat performance of the 2015 victory
are great and likely to be pervasive, other things being equal. Otherwise, the
situation may be dicey. Nevertheless, Amaechi is certainly a rampart for
effective prosecution of Buhari’s re-election battle.
REACTIONS TO THE OUTCOME
OF THE 2019 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
The result of the 2019
Presidential election shows that President Buhari with 15, 191.847 votes
defeated his closest rival, Atiku Abubakar the presidential candidate of the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who gathered 11, 262.298 votes.
Atiku Abubakar the
presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have rejected the
result of the election and have resolved to head to the courts to present his
case on why he feels that he was rigged out from the election.
Atiku Abubakar going to
court to challenge the verdict of the election notwithstanding, many world
leaders have congratulated President Buhari for his victory during the polls.
Both local and International Monitors that monitored the election gave a pass
mark both to the electorates and INEC the Organizers of the election..
Chris Kwaja, a Snr Adviser
to the United States Institute of Peace, a Govt-backed institution promoting
conflict resolution worldwide in his reaction counselled Atiku, “Accept defeat
in the spirit of sportsmanship. This is a critical vehicle for democratic
consolidation” while THE NEW YORK TIMES, “Nigeria’s election was in many ways a
referendum on honesty, as voters once again embraced a candidate who held up a
broom at rallies, declaring to sweep away the graft that has given the nation a
bad reputation worldwide.”
To the BBC, “Delays and
violence marred the run-up to the vote BUT NO independent observer has said
that there was electoral fraud” while to CNN, “At least 39 people were killed
in election-related violence, according to the Situation Room, a coalition of
more than 70 civic organizations that monitored the elections. But despite the
violence, US observers from the International Republican Institute and the
National Democratic Institute (IRI/NDI) said that although the deaths were
tragic, they should be placed in the broader context.
PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI
COMMENDS AMAECHI AND OTHERS FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE PARTY
In his acceptance
speech shortly after the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC
announced him as the winner of the 2019 presidential election, President Buhari
singled out some key individuals for commendation.
Top among those who
received the Presidential acknowledgement by the President of efforts
towards his victory include former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu
who is also viewed as the national leader of the All Progressives
Congress, APC. Also mentioned by Buhari is APC national Chairman, Adams
Oshiomhole as well as the former Governor of Rivers State, Minister of
Transportation who also doubles as the Director General of the Campaign
Council, Rotimi Amaechi.
The president said: “In
particular, I would like to thank Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for his masterful
leadership as Co-chair of the Campaign Council. I would like to also thank the
Party Chairman Adams Oshiomhole, the Director General of the Campaign Council
Rotimi Amaechi, all members of the Presidential Campaign Council and other
various Support Groups.”
THE GOALS OF THE NEW
ADMINSTRATION OF PRESIDENT BUHARI
According to President
Buhari, “The new Administration will intensify its efforts in Security,
Restructuring the Economy and Fighting Corruption. We have laid down the foundation
and we are committed to seeing matters to the end. We will strive to strengthen
our unity and inclusiveness so that no section or group will feel left behind
or left out.
CONCLUSION
It takes a superhuman
spirit to accept to coordinate a campaign organization in which many assumed
men of God predicted the downfall or even death of your principal but not
Amaechi. He not only anchored the campaign but proved himself by leading the
campaign Team to victory. Senator Abe may after all be right in his assumption
that Amaechi is a superhuman.
EZE CHUKWUEMEKA EZE is
a Media Consultant based in Rivers State and can be reached via ezemediaconcept2020@gmail.com or
08038199163
