Rotimi Amaechi Biography: Early Life, Career, Awards, Controversy, Wife, Children, & Net Worth
Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi CON (born 27 May 1965) is a Nigerian politician who served as Nigeria’s federal minister of transport from 2015 to 2022 during President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
He withdrew to run for Nigeria’s presidency under the ruling All Progressives Congress. He previously served as governor of oil-rich Rivers State from 2007 to 2015, and as speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly from 1999 to 2007.
On April 9, 2022, Amaechi expressed interest in running for president in 2023. He finished second in the APC presidential primaries in June 2022, behind future president Bola Tinubu, with 316 delegate votes to Tinubu’s 1271 votes. He is now a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Rotimi Amaechi Biography
Rotimi Amaechi, a well-known figure, was born on May 27, 1965, in Ubima, a town in Rivers State’s Ikwerre Local Government Area. His parents, Mary Amaechi and Elder Fidelis Amaechi, raised him with love and care.
He grew up with his younger brother, Chidi Amaechi, who is also from the Ikwerre clan. Rotimi Amaechi went on to graduate from the University of Port Harcourt with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English Literature.
Career
Rotimi Amaechi’s political career began in the 1990s and was defined by active participation in a variety of political roles. Notably, he was the Secretary of the National Republican Convention in Ikwerre LGA and later Special Assistant to Peter Odili, the then-Deputy Governor of Rivers State.
Amaechi ran and won the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) primary for Rivers State Governor in 2007. The party substituted his name, which he later disputed in court. The case eventually reached the Supreme Court.
He became governor on October 26, 2007, after the Supreme Court decided that he was the PDP’s legitimate candidate and winner of the April 2007 governorship election in Rivers State.
His administration engaged in infrastructure development, including the construction of roads and bridges, to unite the entire state by road. The governor was also dedicated to urban regeneration and the modernisation of transportation systems.
His administration commenced construction of a monorail to offer mass transit in Port Harcourt. Some power plant projects (Afam, Trans Amadi, and Onne) were also created to increase the state’s electricity supply.
His political career continued as he successfully ran for and won a position in the Rivers State House of Assembly, where he served as Speaker from 1999 until 2007.
Rotimi Amaechi prioritised infrastructure development as Governor of Rivers State, particularly in transportation, education, and healthcare. Significant projects included the development of the Port Harcourt International Airport terminal, the Rivers Monorail system, and the enhancement of key road networks.
As Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Amaechi was instrumental in improving relations between the federal government and the states, which increased his national influence. President Muhammadu Buhari nominated him Minister of Transportation, solidifying his influence even more.
Rotimi Amaechi remained committed to infrastructure development while serving as Minister of Transportation, overseeing the successful completion of key railway projects such as the Abuja-Kaduna and Lagos-Ibadan lines. He was re-elected to a second term on April 26, 2011.
In August 2013, Amaechi was one of seven serving governors who formed the G-7 faction within the PDP. In November 2013, Amaechi and five other G-7 members switched to the new opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), where he became the director general of Muhammadu Buhari’s presidential campaign.
Awards
- Amaechi holds the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).
Corruption Allegations
Since leaving office in 2015, Amaechi has faced corruption claims from his successor, Nyesom Wike. Wike accused him of using state funds to finance President Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign during the 2015 presidential election by selling Rivers state-owned oil and gas assets and fraudulently misappropriating the proceeds of the transaction, which totalled $309 million. Amaechi has repeatedly refuted the claims against him.
In 2018, he admitted that despite Buhari’s anti-corruption campaign, corruption still existed within the administration. In May 2022, the Supreme Court of Nigeria approved a Rivers State panel of inquiry to investigate Amaechi for alleged ₦96 billion fraud.
Rotimi Amaechi Wife
He is married to Judith Amaechi, and they have three boys. He is a Catholic and a knight of the Order of Saint John (KSJ). Amaechi released his debut single, ‘Blessed The People The Lord Has Chosen As His Heritage’, in partnership with his wife, Judith, on May 27, 2021, to commemorate his 56th birthday.
On November 19, 2022, Amaechi declared on Twitter that he is now a certified graduate of law, along with photos of his convocation. Rotimi Amaechi is the father of three sons: Chimkamkpa Amaechi, Obinna Amaechi, and Lemchi Amaechi; he has no daughters. Judith is known for her dedication as a partner as well as her extraordinary humanitarian endeavours, which have had a significant impact on many lives.
Rotimi Amaechi Net Worth
Rotimi Amaechi, the former governor of Rivers State, has an estimated net worth of $5 million. Because assets and investments are scattered across multiple sources, obtaining an accurate and precise estimate of his entire value becomes even more difficult.
