2027: Merit Must Replace Federal Character, Says Amaechi

A former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has declared that he would abolish the federal character principle if elected president in 2027, insisting that all Nigerians deserve equal citizenship rights.

Amaechi, who is seeking the presidency on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the statement shortly after appearing before the party’s screening committee in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to him, issues surrounding indigeneship would no longer exist under his administration, irrespective of whether citizens come from the northern, eastern, western, or southern regions of the country.
He argued that the federal character principle was created because the Nigerian system is unfair and fails to provide equal opportunities for citizens across the federation.
Amaechi maintained that Nigerians should be allowed to operate freely without discrimination, adding that competence and merit should be the major criteria for employment and appointments into public institutions.
The former Rivers governor also linked rising insecurity and criminal activities in the country to poverty, unemployment, and failures within the socio-economic system, which he described as deeply flawed.
“The reason people carry guns is because the system is bad. Nigeria has been divided into the rich and the poor,” he said.
He further noted that while wealthy Nigerians send their children to private schools, poor citizens are left with underfunded public schools that lack adequate infrastructure and opportunities.
Amaechi urged Nigerians to assess political leaders based on their track records and performance rather than ethnic or regional sentiments.
Citing reforms implemented during his time as governor of Rivers State, he said his administration improved public education, leading many parents to move their children from private schools to government-owned institutions.
He also stated that his government established healthcare centres in communities across the state and increased the number of doctors employed in Rivers from 400 to 600.
Amaechi explained that his administration introduced free healthcare services, with the government paying hospitals directly according to the number of patients treated every month.
“Every primary healthcare centre established by my administration was staffed with at least one doctor and two nurses for effective service delivery,” he stated.
The former minister reiterated that Nigerians should judge leaders based on measurable achievements and policies rather than ethnicity, region, or political affiliations.
Reacting to speculations linking him to vice-presidential ambitions, Amaechi dismissed the reports, stressing that he is only interested in contesting for the presidency.
“I don’t want to be vice president. I made myself clear and did not speak in ambiguous terms,” he said.