Oba of Benin to Amaechi: We’d Be Surprised If You Didn’t Run

Minister advises APC delegates not to waste their votes at presidential primaries

The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare 2, at the weekend, told the Minister of Transport, he would have been surprised if he wasn’t running for the president of Nigeria, because he was well positioned to lead the country.

The monarch said this, when Amaechi visited his palace in the sourse of his consultation to Edo and meeting delegates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

This is as Amaechi advised the Edo APC delegates to vote wisely and not to waste their votes at the upcoming presidential primary.

However, the Oba of Benin, while speaking to Amaechi, said, “If you didn’t come out, we would have been surprised. We have heard you, we have been watching all you have been doing as the

Minister of Transportation.

“We commend you for what you have done for the railway lines, but the security agencies need to be involved considering what happened the last time on Abuja-Kaduna railway line. Benin throne is non-partisan, however, we’ll endeavour to follow our ancestors directives to guide and pray.”

Addressing delegates in Edo State, Amaechi urged them not to be carried away with the bevy of aspirants from the ruling party, but stay focused on the goal of voting a credible, experienced and performing aspirant like himself to fly the APC flag at the 2023 presidential elections.

He said, “Politicians will come to ask for your votes, but please, as South South people, as politicians, as good people of Nigeria, don’t waste your votes. The problem with politicians is you. The elites have shown you that they are here to ‘chop money’ and you allow them. They will bring money here and say you should vote for them, and nobody will care to ask ‘what was he before now, what is his performance?’ The economy they want to come and manage, how have they performed?

“Ask me as Minister for Transport, I’m working hard to make sure that Lagos-Calabar rail line begins and it will come through Benin. I can account for my part. So, when those in charge of the economy come to you for votes, ask them how they have managed the economy. As I’m here, ask me. If you ask these kind of questions, they will not come forward. Me, I come with experience, let them come with that experience.

“I come with the experience of being a Speaker for eight years and I managed my colleagues without being impeached. First time in the history of Nigeria that a Speaker will serve for eight years without being impeached. It was me. And I was Chairman, Speakers Forum, twice. You understand what it means to manage your equals? I was elected Chairman of Governors Forum, twice. If I didn’t manage the Governor’s Forum well, would my colleagues have voted for me?” He asked.

Amaechi also harped on the importance of having an electable candidate on the ballot for the APC to win the presidency.