2023: Why Amaechi may be Buhari's chosen one to challenge Tinubu in APC [Pulse Editor's Opinion]

As the path leading to the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) becomes increasingly tortuous, speculations are rife about who exactly may become the chosen one among the disciples and sponsors of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government.

Judging from the litany of pundits and experts who have made their predictions known on the subject matter, names like that of the national leader of the APC, Bola Tinubu; Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo; Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi; Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele; Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi among others are thrown up more often than not. But further examinations of the recent events that may determine eventualities in the party show that the latter (Amaechi) may be the one with the greatest prospect.

Though unsuspecting to ordinary Nigerians, those who are in the inner circle of power understand Amaechi's stateliness under the Buhari's administration. His disruptive abilities and yearning for change have uprooted some of the fundamental structures in APC and in other cases changed the power-play dynamics in the party. 

Recall the power struggle that raged within the APC in 2020, between the Lion of Bourdillon, Tinubu/former governor of Edo State, Oshiomhole on one hand, and the Lion of Ubima, Amaechi's group on the other hand, which led to the ouster of Oshiomhole as APC national party chairman and saw Edo taken away from the Tinubu/Oshiomhole camp – now albeit ceded momentarily to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

At the time, Amaechi and his allies while plotting for Oshiomhole’s exit as APC chair had prepared the national secretary of the party, Mr Victor Giadom to take over the party leadership. But the process became entangled by judicial actions.

Nevertheless, in the previously mentioned battle of the lions, Amaechi unarguably took the lion's share by edging out the Tinubu/Oshiomhole caucus and forging ahead to form new alliances, part of which produced the Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni as the Chairman Caretaker Committee of the APC. Thus, Amaechi is Buni's man and Buni's win is Amaechi's win.

Let's revisit some past events to x-ray Amaechi's strengths and see how the same could shape his probable journey to clinch the APC 2023 presidential ticket.

Beyond the open secret that Amaechi has the ear of President Buhari, a greater signal of the political romance between the duo was greatly publicised on February 5, 2022, after he (Amaechi) was turbaned by the Emir of Daura, Umar Farouk Umar as the Dan Amanar Daura (trusted son of Daura). Daura is in Katsina State and it is the hometown of PMB.

This gesture means a lot in the context of the powerplay among politicians aiming to succeed Buhari. Wondering how such a Traditional title, potent enough to stir political assumptions could come to fruition for the transportation minister, who is presently serving under Buhari only brings one closer to the important place Amaechi holds in PMB's circle. Apparently, he wouldn't have been turbaned without PMB's endorsement and there are more messages to deduce from this event.

Recall Amaechi sited a Transportation University in Daura. He also engineered an ongoing project, a US$1.959 billion Kano-Maradi Standard Gauge Railway line which passed through Daura.

Amaechi is one of the few members of Buhari's cabinet whose name largely escapes critics’ hammer on the ruling government for reviving Nigeria's rail sector that was otherwise left in decades-long ruin.

Speaking on why the Minister of Transportation was turbaned as Dan Amanar Daura, Emir of Daura, Umar – Faruk Umar said he appointed Amaechi, for his “dedication to the development of his emirate and Nigeria”.

The monarch said people like Mr Amaechi deserved a traditional title in the Emirate “because they have proven reliable”.

In the history of how Buhari rose to power in 2015, it's common knowledge that Tinubu's political structure played a huge role, however, those in the know are aware that the financial war chest that powered Buhari's candidacy was on Amaechi's shoulder. He is a two-time Director-General of President Muhammadu Buhari's presidential campaigns, a decision that was directly made by PMB himself - the reasons are not farfetched, Amaechi is dear to Buhari and has exhibited unquestionable loyalty and commitment to the Buhari-led government.

Against all odds, Amaechi, a two-time governor cum two-time speaker in his state was resolute in his mission to get Buhari elected. He led and canvassed top PDP governors and lawmakers who eventually decamped from PDP, joined the APC, and finally ended the 16-year reign of the "power to the people" party, PDP at the federal government level.

Amaechi, the Lion of Ubima shouldn't be underestimated. From his days at the Rivers State House of Assembly to the time he steered the affairs of the state as governor (tackling kidnappings, oil bunkering, among others) and moving on to galvanise the machinery that broke PDP's fierce grip on power on account of its federal might for 16 years, to delivering excellently as a minister under Buhari-led government, he has demonstrated to the entire world his political prowess and sagacity. Many now watch with bated breath if he would be the one to befittingly roar in a contest with the Lion of Bourdillon for the APC presidential ticket and what would be the outcome.