Former Minister of Transportation and former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, has defended his reputation as a transparent politician, saying he would be living a far more luxurious lifestyle if he had engaged in corruption while in office.
Speaking during an interview on the With Chude Podcast, Amaechi described himself as one of the simplest politicians in Nigeria, noting that many people are surprised by how ordinary and approachable he is when they meet him in person.
He said he pays attention to criticism from people who understand the issues and are able to point out genuine mistakes. According to him, such criticism helps him improve and correct any wrongdoing.
Amaechi acknowledged that public office can sometimes provide opportunities and influence that ordinary citizens may not have, such as easier access to loans. However, he maintained that he never deliberately took public funds for personal gain.
Referring to transactions involving more than three trillion naira that passed through Zenith Bank during his time in office, Amaechi said he was informed that some officials elsewhere collected commissions from similar deals. He explained that if he had taken 10 percent from such an amount, he would have amassed about 300 billion naira.
The former minister argued that if he truly possessed such wealth, his lifestyle would clearly reflect it. He said that instead of granting interviews and defending his record, he would likely be driving a bulletproof Rolls-Royce and enjoying the privileges that come with enormous riches.
In his words, “If I have 300 billion naira, I’ll be driving a Rolls-Royce, a bulletproof Rolls-Royce…See More
