'I wore one shirt for 4 years' – ex-Rivers Gov Amaechi

Former Minister of Transportation and ex-Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Amaechi, has opened up about the intense poverty that defined his early life, revealing he once wore the same shirt and trousers for nearly four years.

In an emotional interview with the Daily Sun, Amaechi recounted his struggles growing up in the streets of Port Harcourt, where even getting enough to eat was a challenge.

“I grew up in Port Harcourt. Poverty was everywhere, we couldn’t feed, you can hardly eat three times a day, and you can hardly change your clothes,” Amaechi said.

Amaechi Reflects on Harsh Childhood

Now a prominent political figure who served two terms as governor and two terms as minister, Amaechi reflected on how hardship shaped his drive and ambition.

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“In fact, when I tell people that I wore a shirt and a trouser for nearly four years, most people don’t believe it, but my classmates will tell you,” he added.

Recalling his school days, Amaechi shared a lighthearted anecdote about reunions with old classmates, noting how his past circumstances once affected how people perceived him.

“Because we were very poor, we didn’t have money to feed, we didn’t have clothes to wear, you people didn’t give us attention. You people didn’t think we had a bright future.”

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Despite the odds, Amaechi’s journey saw him rise to become the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum and a key contender in the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primaries in 2022, where he finished second.

“So, for me, I am as simple as life can give,” he concluded, reflecting on how his humble beginnings continue to ground him, even at the peak of political influence.

His story stands as a testament to resilience and the unpredictability of destiny.