It was one of those golden journalistic opportunities that I couldn’t have allowed to slip by. And without wasting too much time or even dissipating so much energy on all the merriment unfolding right before my eyes, I immediately keyed in – and thank God it turned out successful. Remember that popular saying: No venture, no success. It sure works. Arriving Julius Agwu’s Lekki, Lagos home on time (on Sunday, September 20, 2015) for His Special Thanksgiving, I swiftly made for his sitting room, after exchanging pleasantries with the few faces I could easily recognize. Looking farther, but without standing on any giant’s shoulder this time, I sighted him, sitting down, smiling and playing with our host’s daughter, Zahra. I’m talking about the man whose admirers enjoy addressing as the Lion of Niger Delta – Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, former Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly and immediate – past Governor of Rivers State. Trust me, it was one temptation I gladly fell into. I just have to ask Amaechi a few questions, no matter what, I muttered to myself. So, I made a move and you won’t believe it, he consented immediately. The ex-Governor actually said yes to YES! But because I didn’t want to sound like a member of the opposition, I decided to take our impromptu interview from the simple to the not-too-simple.
Cheerfully and without complaints, he responded to all my questions one after the other and as best as he could. From our host, Julius Agwu to his tenure as governor, his brave battle with former President Goodluck Jonathan to his family, life outside government and more; much more. It was indeed a fantastic session between YES INTERNATIONAL! Magazine Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, AZUH ARINZE and erstwhile Rivers State Governor and authentic Chairman of the then Nigerian Governors Forum, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi that unforgettable Sunday afternoon. Enjoy…
His Excellency, how do you feel about what has happened to Julius Agwu? You seem to be one of the closest big brothers that he has…You were there for him when we came for his wedding in Port-Harcourt, while you were still the Governor, you are his son’s godfather and he even named the boy after you (Chibuke) and now this…
I think he’s done the right thing. The first thing he should do, and which he did, is to thank God. He could have died, he could have taken the advise of ‘rest in Nigeria’ and resting in Nigeria; by now, we will be attending his burial ceremony. So, it was good that he went to church to thank God. The next thing he did which he should from today learn to do is how to go for medical check up. It’s not very expensive. You may be shocked that at 50, my medical check up costs me £300. So, if you run into America, London, just pop into a hospital and do a medical checkup. You can do it here; there are good hospitals even in Nigeria that can do medical check-ups for you and make sure that your health is okay. The next thing to say is that we are happy. I am happy that all his friends were able to come and worship God with him. We thank God for him – it was a successful surgery.
We learnt you were one of the people who assisted him financially for the operation?
Only him knows that. I don’t know about that (Laughter). I don’t know if I was among them.
One thing people always talk about you is your generosity. At least, we’ve heard about OJB Jezreel, Basorge Tariah, Julis Agwu and so on. Why do you always do that?
No, no, no…I don’t know about assisting people. But everyday, a man walks out of your life complaining about his health and you don’t assist, if he dies, you bear the responsibility (Laughter). Because your conscience is going to ask you; you don’t have money to assist him? So, if you have money to assist him and you don’t assist him, then even though in law you won’t be charged for manslaughter, in your conscience, you should judge yourself for manslaughter.
He named his son after you – Chibuike. How do you feel about that?
Oh, I’m grateful that he did. I had a chat with the daughter, Zahra, and not the son, Zaddock because the son is too young. But I think that he should give him good education. It’s key to the successful growth of a child. The only thing the father owes his son or a daughter is good education. So, I’m very, very grateful to him that he named his child after me and I hope that all of us will contribute to the growth of that child.
How is life outside government?
You know I didn’t live a governor’s life inside government. I lived my normal life, so there are no changes. But the last time I came here (Julius’ house), I was a governor. I drove myself. There was no security, I ate eba (garri) and I left. The same thing, I drove myself today, the daughter was with me in the car and the same thing, I will still eat eba. But if they say no eba, I will eat pounded yam and I will go home. The only thing is that my security has reduced, which is one thing I’ve been praying for. I’ve always been telling people – I can’t visit people, you can’t do what you want to do, because of the number of security men around you. It makes you think that people want to harm you, but it’s not true.
What will you describe as your greatest achievement as a governor?
I don’t know! But there are attempts by PDP (Peoples Democratic Party) to rubbish those achievements and I’m laughing at them. It will take them a looooooong time to be able to rubbish those things. By the time I left Rivers State Government, I had built 500 primary schools, unlike the ones I met. And I demolished 80 percent of the classrooms I met. I built 14 with ICT infrastructure. I entered into a contract with Indians to teach these children ICT. I’m sure the current government must have abandoned it. I concluded four secondary schools; N4.5 billion per school. The schools were two children per room; 1,050 children in the school and I also again contracted the Indian administrators to manage the school and to teach the children. If you see the quality of graduates from that school, you will see a great difference. That’s in education. And we trained teachers in education, we hired more teachers. No government has done it so far – 13,200 teachers! I built roads, and they are all driving on that roads! The same people who are going about saying oh, he did nothing. They are driving on the same roads. So, I’m able to mention those…
We visited Rivers State during your tenure. No doubt, you did a lot for the state and the people. But what was that thing that you really wanted to do, and couldn’t?
It got to a point that the level of corruption under President Goodluck Jonathan became so unbearable that we couldn’t complete the projects we wanted to do. Honestly, I’m not lying…Imagine now that the Federal Government under President Buhari wants to refund the money that we used in building federal roads. The total amount of money that we used to build the roads was N105 billion. And Nyesom Wike (the current Governor) is glad to go and collect such money. Now, I want to ask – I thought he said we did nothing? Why does he want to collect such money? We did the Port-Harcourt/Owerri road; we were constructing the Port-Harcourt/Aba road before money finished. And you see, it is the money they stole from the system that we could have used to build those roads. We did the fly over or the interchange on Aba/Port-Harcourt road, what they call Eleme junction, we again did the one at Obilikoke. There were so many roads; about five fly overs that we did around that area. Now, we have found out that a lot of these children that we sent overseas to go and study Medicine and all that are being sent back because they don’t have money to complete their education…
One of the things we admire about you is your courage and your boldness to take on anybody. Where did you get that from? You don’t shy away from battles…
I don’t take on people (Smiles). Well, if…I don’t take on people. I just don’t like lies, I don’t like to see dishonesty, I don’t like corruption and that’s why I’m waiting for Nyesom Wike to prove that I was corrupt. Therefore, when these (things) show (up), I confront it. That’s what led to my disagreement with President Goodluck Jonathan. And I mentioned it to him before the fight became public.
God has done a lot for you, what has God not done for you?
Good! That’s what I tell people – I say…This morning, when I was praying in church, I was asking God – I’m becoming lazy in worshipping you (Laughter), because I feel I have a sense of fulfillment – that what else am I looking for in God’s hands that He has not done for me? The only thing I’m asking God to do is to keep me alive. At 42, I became Governor, at 34, I became Speaker. So…
How did you feel when eventually you were not made the SFG (Secretary to the Federal Government) by Buhari. A lot of people were saying that that was the position you were promised when you quit PDP for APC…
Oh! That is left in the hands of God and the President. You can’t tell yourself what you will be; it’s only God that can decide what you will be. So, all those were speculations (Smiling).
Now that you are outside of government, how do you spend your time?
I do exercise, I read my books. I have a full library, bigger than this place (Julius’ sitting room). As big as this living room and it’s full of books.
Of all the books that you have read, which one has made the greatest impact?
I don’t know…I read a lot of literature books because I’m a graduate of Literature. So, I can’t say which one has made the greatest impact on me, but there’s one book I will like you to read. I’ve forgotten the author – Why Bad Things Happen To Good People. It will dare your conscience or dare your faith. I read that book; it’s crazy (Laughing).
How much of a family man is Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi?
Only my wife (Judith) can answer that question (General laughter). And my children.
Okay, but do you still make out time for them?
I do! I just came back from UK (United Kingdom) yesterday, because I went to see my son. I went to see my son in UK and I went to see the one in Ireland. Last night, about 12 midnight, I spoke to my son in Canada and I assured him that I’m travelling; I told him that I’m travelling with the President to America on the 24th. He will leave at 29th, I will remain behind so that I can come and see you in Canada. So, once I go to see him in Canada, I’ve completed my duty, my tour of duty.
What’s the greatest lesson that politics has taught you?
Service to the people. There are so many Nigerians who are poor, but if we manage our resources very well, we will better their lives.
What’s the commonest mistake that most politicians make?
There’s lack of due process in the system in Nigeria. And because there’s lack of due process, people assume that they know everything, they can do everything. But if you submit everything to due process, you will see that your ideas may not be correct.
What’s your own personal definition of politics?
I don’t know…I just think that it is a process by which service is rendered to the people for the benefit of the people. Let me put it that way.
Most politicians attain success, but they are not able to sustain it, they are not able to manage it. Where do they get it wrong?
I also don’t know. Once you are on the side of God and people, you will not get it wrong. You know, when I hear what’s going on in Rivers State, I get very angry with the people because I was expecting that the people will stand up and say no, this man is wrong. But my mind now tells me that that’s not all; it’s not enough to say oh, because they are not happy, they are not showing gratitude, that you should just back out.
Anything on Wike, Jonathan and Buhari?
Not yet!