Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has said he would abolish identity-based politics if elected President, insisting that governance should be centred on citizenship rather than ethnicity or religion.…....
Speaking in a video, the former Rivers state governor argued that Nigeria’s political system has been weakened by divisions along regional and religious lines, which he believes have continued to influence voting patterns and national unity.
He said said his administration would prioritise national identity over sectional affiliations, stressing that Nigerians should be treated equally regardless of where they come from. From breaking news to viral moments. Follow Legit.ng on Instagram.
“If I become President, there will not be this issue. There will be citizenship first and foremost, citizens of Nigeria,” he said.
He maintained that the current system encourages division, adding that leadership should not be determined by ethnic or religious considerations. “All these, I’m from the West, North or East, and they are calling people to vote for you based on religion,” he said.
The former governor also questioned aspects of the federal character principle, suggesting that it may contribute to inefficiencies in governance.
He argued that while it was designed to ensure fairness, it has in some cases been used to justify structural imbalances.
“If it is because the system is unfair, one way to manage the system is to say give shares to areas,” he said.
Amaechi linked Nigeria’s insecurity challenges to unemployment and systemic failure, suggesting that improved governance would reduce crime.
He explained that many social vices arise due to lack of structured economic engagement. “If everybody is employed… you won’t have time to rob,” he said.
“You are at work by 6am and close by 6pm; you are too tired to carry a gun,” he added.
He concluded by calling for leaders to be assessed based on their track records rather than identity politics.
Amaechi insisted that Nigeria must move towards a system where competence and results define leadership selection rather than ethnicity or religion.
