By George Ozalla
Former Rivers State Governor and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has dismissed suggestions that his political position against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is driven by ethnic considerations, insisting that his identity and political outlook remain firmly Nigerian rather than regional.
Amaechi, who is a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, made the remarks during an interview on Trust TV News on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, where he addressed questions surrounding his political disagreements and his place in the current national conversation.
He said he does not subscribe to ethnic framing of politics, stressing that such interpretations do not reflect his stance. “I don’t believe in ethnic politics. I’m a Nigerian,” he said.
The former governor also reacted to comments attributed to former APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, over claims that he is not a national political figure.
“I listen to this man. I don’t want to abuse him. Because I think I will be bringing myself down to him at 70 something. I’m not yet 70. He can’t watch what he says,” Amaechi said.
He went further, directly referencing Oshiomhole in sharper terms, saying, “Senator Adams Oshiomhole. That I’m not a national candidate. He’s been gossiping and talking rubbish any day you puts him on TV. Let him wait. One day I will confront him,” he stated.
Despite the heated remarks, Amaechi declined to deepen the confrontation during the interview, noting his past position within the party structure and his preference not to escalate personal exchanges.
“I’m a presidential aspirant. I was his chairman. He’s insulting his chairman. I was his chairman. I don’t want to join issues with him,” he said.
On the wider debate around zoning and power rotation in Nigeria’s political system, Amaechi offered a mixed position, saying the principle cannot be ignored entirely but is also not absolute.
When asked if he believes in zoning, he replied, “Do I believe in zoning? The answer is yes and no.”
He explained that while zoning reflects current political realities in a divided federation, opinions differ among political actors. He pointed to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who has rejected zoning as a principle guiding political contests.
“Yes, in the sense that the country, for now, is yet to be found as a united entity. So, if it’s the turn of the South, it’s the turn of the South,” he said.
Amaechi added that such disagreements ultimately play out in party contests and primaries. “But vice-president Atiku says he doesn’t believe in it. Okay, so let’s go to the primary,” he said.
