After much braggadocio that he would not accept a vice presidential ticket, former Rivers State governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, last week accepted to be running mate to the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, in the 2027 general election.
Announcing the decision, ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said Amaechi’s emergence followed broad consultations within the party and reflected his strong performance as runner-up in the party’s presidential primaries.
This development brings to mind a particular incident that occurred before the ADC presidential primary.
In a live interview, Amaechi was asked whether he would embrace a consensus arrangement and subsequently accept the role of vice-presidential candidate. At the time, he was contesting the ADC presidential primary alongside Atiku and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, former managing director of the defunct FSB International Bank.
Amaechi, who was visibly incensed by the question, admonished the interviewer, saying: “Would you stop that nonsense? Stop that. I didn’t buy a form to be vice-president. Don’t you ever say it.
“This interview is about the presidency. If you want to interview a vice-president, can I step down so I can get vice-presidential aspirants?” he shouted.
About a week later, when Atiku clinched the ADC presidential ticket, Amaechi swiftly rejected the outcome of the primary, alleging widespread voter disenfranchisement and electoral malpractice during the exercise.
But last Monday, the former Rivers governor made a volte-face when the ADC named him as Atiku’s running mate for the forthcoming general election.
Given his strong opposition to the idea during the interview, many expected him to reject the offer.
By accepting the offer, Amaechi has endorsed the result of the presidential primary of ADC, which he described as being characterized by widespread voter disenfranchisement and electoral malpractice. According to the former Rivers State governor, the results, which produced Atiku as the party’s presidential candidate, were “concocted”.
His U-turn brings to mind one of the enduring traits of politicians in the Fourth Republic: A penchant for doublespeak.
The words of politicians, it seems, are seldom a reliable guide to their convictions, revealing a troubling deficit of character and integrity.
