A chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, has challenged the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, to be honest with Nigerians while seeking higher political office.
The promoters of Amaechi’s 2023 presidential bid are anchoring his chase for the APC ticket on the clamour for a president of Igbo extraction, pushing the sentiment that the former governor of Rivers State is Igbo.
Since Amaechi came to political limelight, he has – especially around the western media axis – been addressed more as Rotimi, and rarely as Chibuike.
But recently in the social media, the name Chibuike has suddenly gained prominence, while his handlers are seriously promoting the identity into public consciousness.
They argue that Amaechi is an Igbo man by birth, heritage and ancestry, adding that the Ikwere, Rivers State born politician is Igbo, as Ikwere people are Igbo.
But Igbokwe in a Facebook post on Sunday, reminded the minister that he once denied being Igbo, asking him (Amaechi) “why this sudden U-turn now sir?”
Igbokwe further told Amaechi that he cannot deny Igbo in the market place and come to them at night to pay allegiance, adding that it is not “the hallmark of a serious and a decent person.”
Igbokwe wrote: “Hon Minister of Transport, former two-term Speaker Rivers State House of Assembly and former two-term Governor of Rivers State Chibuike Amaechi once said publicly that he is not Igbo. Why this sudden u- turn now sir?
“You cannot deny us in the market place in the afternoon and come to us in the night to pay allegiance. This is not the hallmark of a serious and a decent person. We are not babies, Sir.”