I didn't join Politics with the zeal to serve Nigeria, says Amaechi

Mr. Rotimi Amaechi 

The Minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has said he joined politics because of unemployment not because he wanted to serve Nigeria.

Amaechi stated this on Sunday in an interview with Punch.


He said unemployment is one of the age-long challenges of Nigeria which was the main reason he joined politics.

He said, “I didn’t join politics because I wanted to be a leader or because I wanted to solve Nigeria’s problems. I joined because of unemployment. I also believe there is a part that grace played in it,”.

"I actually got auditioned at the Nigeria Television Authority to be a broadcaster. I recall that I walked into their office then and said I wanted to see a certain person. But the person I met asked me if I had been auditioned because I had a wonderful voice. I told him I hadn’t and he asked for me to be auditioned. However, before the employment letter came, I was already into politics. That saved me. I would have been a broadcaster by now.




While recounting his political journey in the interview, Amaechi lamented the poor representation of the people by political officeholders.

He said the poor have never been properly represented by the government whether it is the current administration, which he is part of, or the ones before it.



“The poor are still here and I doubt if they would ever go away. What happens is that the elite – whether the capitalists or socialists – must manage them in such a way that they can be provided for,” he added.