OPINION: Rotimi Amaechi – An Apostle Paul Of Our Age
Editor’s note: Arinze Esomnofu, Naij.com constant guest author, says what Rotimi Amaechi, the former governor of Rivers state and one of the ministerial nominees, and Apostle Paul, one of the most prominent apostles in Christianity, have in common. Are you wondering what it is?
Being granted a second chance is a rear privilege. Call it destiny, or “time and chance”, but it just does not come for whatever reason. If we are honest enough with ourselves, we will definitely realise that there are certain instances or situations when we make choices we are not proud of. Most times we wish we could take them back, we crave or even pray for a second chance, however, it does not come. Then most of us tend to think that life is just not fair.
Out of all stories concerning a second chance we have ever read or heard about, the one that stands out is the story of Apostle Paul. Paul, formally known as Saul, was the “tormentor-in-chief” of the Christ’s followers, hunting and killing Christians for sheer delight. Then the second chance knocked on his door – a divine appointment by God, which required no approval from any Senate, and allowed Paul to clear his name from the dirt associated with it and write his name in the historical records. After the appointment Paul got down to work; he made sure only credible individuals were recruited to his ministry, and ran the ministry void of nepotism and favouritism. Paul became the talk of the town, “the apostle with a difference”, and today he is recognized and respected by the individuals born thousands of years after him.
A second chance for Amaechi
But let us come down to the current political situation in Nigeria. A certain Rotimi Amaechi is the hardest nut to crack judging by the recent ministerial screening proposed by President Muhammadu Buhari. The senators were obviously confused as they found it extremely difficult to belong both to the pro-Amaechi and anti-Amaechi groups. After all political razzamatazz following Amaechi’s screening, the senators decided to give him a second chance, and that prompted celebration in the pro-Amaechi camp.
The way politics is played in Nigeria encourages corruption. It allows you to do whatever you like for as long as you are in the good books of those in power. Amaechi’s name had been included in such serendipitous book until he decided to abandon the PDP for the APC, thus preferring a certain Fulani man from the North to his own brother from the South.
Guilty or not guilty?
Before I will be misunderstood, let me quickly declare that the focus of this piece is not on how Amaechi campaigned for President Buhari. The focus of my writing is on the simple question: “Is Amaech corrupt?” If yes, then I call on the anti-graft agencies to prove that the president’s anti-corruption war has not been turned into the anti-PDP war. Do the PDP representatives in Rivers state know something that we do not? Then what are they waiting for? They should hurry and bring it to our doorsteps; the news like this keeps us journalists busy. I crave to see the headlines like “Game over for Amaechi”, “Amaechi: no way out”, etc. However, none of the people calling Amaechi corrupt seems to be eager to provide the anti-graft agencies with any useful details. Who knows, they might be guilty as well; after all, it takes two to tango.
As far as I am concerned, Rotimi Amaechi is not corrupt, and I will stand on my ground until a court of competent jurisdiction proves him guilty of any corruption-related crime. One obvious fact is that Amaechi’s name is strongly associated with corrupt practices. One popular proverb states: “There is no smoke without fire”, so it will not be far from the truth to say that Rotimi Amaechi has a bad name.
A thorny path to power
Rotimi Amaechi has been a political gladiator, a rugged fighter since his early years in politics. The position of the governor of Rivers state was not brought to him on a silver platter in 2007; it was rather a product of grueling legal encounter. Amaechi won the PDP governorship primaries in Rivers state, and was about standing for the election when the PDP under the influence of the former president Olusegun Obasanjo substituted his name with that of Celestine Omehia, Obasanjo’s cousin. Omehia won the election, however, Amaechi refused to give up; he approached the Supreme Court and was declared winner a couple of months later.
Rotimi Amaechi stood by Muhammadu Buhari when the latter was just the former military head of state, who had not won any democratic election, and today Buhari is showing his loyalty to Amaechi by appointing him minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and keeping silent all through the senatorial brouhaha.
Will Aemaechi live up to our expectations?
Today Hon Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi stands tall, for he is a man with a second chance that is rare to come by. Nevertheless, the main questions I am focusing on today is: “Can Amaechi be like Apostle Paul?” Can he make the best of this second chance opportunity? Can he turn every corruption query into heroic praise? Will Amaechi make the ministry he is going to head a model one, or will he rather be a “chop-chop” minister like most of the ministers we have ever had? These questions are meant for Oga Rotimi Amaechi aka “the dollar man”; his answers will determine how his name will be written in the history books of Nigeria.
Apostle Paul made the best of his second chance, and today he is celebrated as one of the best spiritual writers we have ever had, whose writings dominate the Bible. Can Amaechi follow in the steps of the “apostle of second chance”? I will not jump into conclusions on what future is prepared for Rotimi Amaechi, for I am not a diviner. The name Amaechi in English means “Do one know tomorrow?”, and my answer is: “No, I definitely do not.”
Arinze Esomnofu for Naij,com
Arinze Esomnofu is a political analyst, public commentator on trending political events, and a motivational speaker.
This article expresses the author’s opinion only. The views and opinions expressed here do not necessarily represent those of Naij.com or its editors.
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