Amaechi: I Stepped Back From Buhari Cabinet Over Policy Disappointments

Rotimi Amaechi, who previously served as Rivers State governor and Transportation Minister, has revealed that dissatisfaction with performance prompted him to distance himself from Muhammadu Buhari's administration. During an AIT interview Wednesday evening, he characterized his departure as gradual rather than sudden, employing the term "technical resignation" to describe what unfolded before his official departure.

Amaechi recounted that he initially shared concerns with Buhari through private discussions, questioning whether the administration met voter expectations from its campaign messaging. Following these exchanges, Buhari approved his bid to pursue higher education, enabling Amaechi to curtail his ministerial responsibilities.

This arrangement permitted him to appear at the ministry exclusively on Wednesdays while continuing his academic pursuits. In May 2022, Amaechi formally resigned to participate in the APC presidential primary competition.

He subsequently became the African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice presidential nominee and is emerging as a prospective candidate for 2027's presidential contest. His willingness to publicly address the circumstances surrounding his cabinet exit reflects his emerging political positioning for the forthcoming electoral period.

The disclosure sheds light on internal workings within Buhari's cabinet during its final stretch. Amaechi's experience demonstrates friction between political pledges and governing reality that marked aspects of the concluding administration.

His public articulation of withdrawal rationales contributes to broader discourse regarding how the Buhari period managed governance challenges.