Biography Of Rotimi Amaechi & Career

3 years ago

Biography Of Rotimi Amaechi & Career

Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi is a Nigerian politician who is currently serving as the Minister of Transportation in the cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari. He previously served in oil-rich Rivers State as Governor of Rivers State from 2007 to 2015 and Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly from 1999 to 2007.

Rotimi Amaechi Biography

He was born on May 27, 1965, to family of Elder Fidelis and Mary Amaechi. He is a native of Ubima, Ikwere Local Government Area, Rivers State. He grew up in a densely populated area of Port Harcourt, named Diobu.

He previously served in oil-rich Rivers State as Governor of Rivers State from 2007 to 2015 and Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly from 1999 to 2007.

Before his defection to the All Progressives Congress on 27 November 2013, Amaechi was an active member of the People’s Democratic Party.

Education

He had his early education at Theresa’s Primary School from 1970 to 1976. And for his Secondary education, he attended Government Secondary School Okolobiri, he earned his West African Senior School Certificate in 1982.

He proceeded to the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, from where he was transferred to obtain a degree in Studies and Literature from the University of Port Harcourt in 1987. While in school, his political traits were conspicuous. He was the President of the National Union of Rivers State Students (NURSS). In 1987, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree (Honors) in English Studies and Literature from the University of Port Harcourt.

He completed his National Youth Service in 1988 and then worked at Pamo Clinics and Hospitals Limited owned by Peter Odili, until 1992. He also a director of several companies, including West Africa Glass Industry Limited and Risonpalm Nigeria Limited.

Politics

After his political achievements in school, he started politics on a more serious note, serving as the Secretary of the defunct National Republican Convention in Ikwere Local Government.

After his NYSC, he worked for a while with the Pamo Clinics and Hospitals Limited owned by the deputy governor of Rivers State, until 1992.

After that, he became a Special Assistant to the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Sir (Dr.) Peter Odili. In no time, Peter Odili became his mentor. He worked side by side with him; as he also became a member of the Board of West Africa Glass industry and Risonpalm Nigeria Limited.

He was Rivers State’s Secretary of the Democratic Party of Nigeria (DPN) caretaker committee under General Sani Abacha’s administration in 1996

With the help of his political Godfather Odili, Rotimi became a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly by 1999. He also became the speaker of the house and served 2 tenures in that capacity from 1999 to 2007

His relationship with Peter Odili went sour as he contested against him on October 26, 2007, as governor. He contested and won under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and was re-elected in 2011 for a second tenure under the same party.

Rotimi’s administration had its perks. It foresaw the rise in infrastructural developments; particularly on road construction, urban renewal and modernized transportation, in Rivers State.

After the 2015 elections, Rotimi contested the results and requested a re-run. Following the re-run, he lost the gubernatorial seat to the current governor, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike.

He has always been under the PDP umbrella, but defected to the opposition, All Progressives Congress (APC). The defection earned him an appointment as the opposition party’s Director-General of the Presidential campaign. It also secured him his recent position as the Minister of Transport.

Achievements

He has made notable achievements in politics, which include;

• He has been conferred the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).

• In 2000, he has an oil refinery in Ghana and won the international award for political leadership.

• Rotimi won a couple of awards in 1999 for his brilliant service in parliament as the Speaker.

• He enriched Rivers State with social amenities, renovated and constructed schools – from Primary to the University; and awarded scholarships to students with sponsorships to study abroad, during his few years as governor.

• He renovated and constructed roads and also initiated the construction of the overhead railway in River State.

• He is rated the best governor the state has ever had.

Personal life

Rotimi Amaechi got married to Judith Amaechi in 1993, who is head of the Empowerment Support Initiative (ESI) which campaigns against HIV/AIDS, advocates the rights of the women and children, and promotes gender equity and Girl Child education. They have three children namely; Obinna Amaechi, Chimkamkpa Amaechi, Lemchi Amaechi.