Amaechi blames Buhari’s advice for defeat in 2022 APC primary
By Ayobami Okerinde
Former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi has attributed his loss to President Bola Tinubu in the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary to his adherence to advice from the late President Muhammadu Buhari.
Amaechi disclosed that Buhari had assured him of securing the party’s presidential ticket before the June 2022 primary but advised him against campaigning or engaging with party delegates.
In an interview on Mainland 98.3FM’s “The Situation Room” program in Lagos on Friday, Amaechi stated, “The first mistake that I made at that primary was that I listened to President Buhari. He said to me, ‘Don’t campaign. Don’t do anything. I will announce you as my candidate.'” He added that Buhari had put this assurance in writing and mentioned his intention to disclose the details in an upcoming book.
He expressed confidence that Buhari’s support would provide him with a significant edge over other candidates, resulting in a minimal incentive to participate in political negotiations ahead of the primary. However, Amaechi acknowledged that his lack of agreements with governors and other key APC figures ultimately undermined his campaign efforts.
“I didn’t do deals. If I had promised you the vice-presidency or the secretary-general position, I possibly would have won,” he noted, suggesting that his failure to engage in political bargaining allowed Tinubu the opportunity to secure critical support.
Amaechi also suggested that religious factors played a role in the outcome of the 2022 APC presidential primary. He claimed that Tinubu’s supporters effectively utilized religious appeals to galvanize delegate support, particularly in northern regions of Nigeria. He alleged that a faction of Yoruba Muslims from the South sought the backing of northern governors on religious grounds.
The former Rivers State governor mentioned Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, as an initial supporter of his presidential bid who later shifted his allegiance to Tinubu. “El-Rufai was my supporter. In a viral video, he said this is done for the faith,” Amaechi stated.
Despite allegations regarding the influence of religion in the primary, Amaechi asserted that he would refrain from leveraging religious identity to garner political support, emphasizing his belief in national unity. He warned against political appeals based on religious affiliations, suggesting that such strategies could exacerbate divisions within the country.
“I wouldn’t want to run that kind of federation,” he said. “It will cause confusion. It will cause problems in the country. That makes me a nationalist.”
