I’m One Of The Few Honest Nigerians -Rotimi Amaechi

AISHA ABUBAKAR

Rt. Hon Rotimi Amaechi, minister for transportation, has said that he is not corrupt and that he is one of the “very few” honest Nigerians.

Amaechi stated this during an interview on Channels TV, adding that there is no way he could be corrupt because he does not like money.

“Is my honesty in doubt?” Amaechi asked.

“I have told Nigerians and I’ll repeat today that I am not corrupt and that I don’t like money. I am not one swayed by money. I have lived a character that most Nigerians can tell you.

“I try as much as possible not to annoy God by saying I am honest but with all modesty, I am an honest Nigerian, and there are very few honest Nigerians.

“Ask yourself one question, if I was corrupt, why didn’t President Goodluck Jonathan prosecute me? The fight between Goodluck and myself lasted for two years?”

The former Rivers State governor also debunked allegations of corruption levelled against him by the Nyesom Wike administration.

Governor Wike recently alleged that the funds recovered from the an apartment in Ikoyi by the EFCC was taken from Rivers state coffers by Amaechi when he was Governor.

Amaechi claimed Nigerians owe him a lot for saving Nigeria from the corrupt practices of the past administration.

When told that his immunity might have saved him from prosecution, he said, “For Christ’s sake, Adamawa governor had immunity and they removed him. They went after the innocent man for nothing.”

“I believe that Nigerians owe me a lot because we saved this country from that level of corruption.”

Amaechi also denied the claim that he funded the Buhari campaign of the 2015 election, saying leading the campaign is different from funding it.

“Do you have evidence that I funded the election? Leading the campaign does not mean you funded the election,” Amaechi said.

“You need to ask the the Buhari campaign organisation. There were contributions from everywhere.

“You didn’t see the woman that had to work to give Buhari her last savings?”

He said despite the health challenge of the president, if he decides to run in 2019, he would support him.

Amaechi said what Nigerians should be concerned about is if Buhari had been providing good leadership and if he has kept his campaign promises.

During the programme, the minister also accused the former minister of aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode of defrauding the Rivers State government.

Amaechi said ex-Rivers Governor Peter Odili paid N2 billion to the ministry of aviation under Fani-Kayode to repair the runway of the state’s airport but the project was not carried out.

“Rivers state government paid N2 billion to the ministry of aviation as part of its contribution to repair the runway that collapsed, and the man (Fani-Kayode) picked it and ran away,” he revealed.

When asked if he has evidence to substantiate his claims against Fani-Kayode, the minister said he will give the documents to the anchor of the programme.