Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has revealed that he and former Ekiti State governor, Kayode Fayemi, initiated the formation of the opposition coalition now working to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Speaking on Friday during an X Space discussion titled Weekend Politics, the former Rivers State governor said the coalition began as a private conversation between himself and Fayemi before the two agreed to expand it to include other political heavyweights.
“Fayemi and I began the coalition discussion, and we subsequently agreed to broaden it so that it would involve more than just the two of us talking about starting a new party,” Amaechi said. “We must create a middle class and put money in the pockets of Nigerians; insecurity will reduce.”
The coalition, which recently adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its platform, now includes notable figures such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal, his successor Boss Mustapha, former Senate President David Mark, ex-Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola, and former Sports Minister Bolaji Abdullahi, among others.
Amaechi also used the discussion to reflect on his political career, noting that he became Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly at the age of 32 and served in that capacity for eight years without impeachment.
“I was the first Speaker at the age of 32 years and led the Rivers State Assembly for eight years without being impeached,” he said.