Maritime Stakeholders in a Night of Celebrating Amaechi in Grand Style
*Dakuku, Hadiza, Bello, others eulogize former minister
*As Amaechi speaks on why he chose present CEOs in maritime
* Explains how he broke up with Jonathan, writing a book on episode
By Francis Ugwoke
For the former Transportation Minister, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, Saturday, July 20, was a day of splendor, one that may have been a surprise coming from the maritime community. It was the day maritime stakeholders set aside to celebrate Amaechi in a grand style. The timing was wonderful, 6pm, and the venue was Eko Hotel & Suites.
Packaged by Team Maritime, the stakeholders were drawn from both the public and private sector. It was a bash. The weekend party was in appreciation of Amaechi’s good works in the transportation sector, particularly in the maritime sector. The Chairman of the occasion was Mr Jim Ovia, a multi billionaire and Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, who flew into the country the same day just to attend the event.
The occasion was full of fun with a lot of entertainment from the comedian and other musicians. But what was even more interesting was the role played by the big men in the industry, taking stage after one another to entertain the guests. At a point the former President, Shipowners Association of Nigeria (SOAN), Engr. Greg Ogbeifun and the Chairman of Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria, Princess Dr. Vicky Haastrup took over the stage to call out the key stakeholders that were instrumental to the organization of the event. Among them were the Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Miss Hadiza Bala Usman, Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Mr Hassan Bello from the public sector. Others were Ogbeifun, Alhaji Aminu Umar, President, Nigerian Ship Owners Association, NISA, Chief Mrs Margret Orakwusi who chaired the Organising Committee. Some governors , including those of Kaduna, Mallam Nasir, el-Rufai, Dr. Obaseki of Edo State, Yobe Governor were in attendance. There were all called to the stage for a dance. It was fun to see the big men and women dance. Amaechi and the wife, Judith were not left out. It was even more fun to watch all in their dancing steps, including the MD of NPA, Hadiza Usman who danced freely, although with caution as is always the case with every important personality. Usman presented a token gift to the former Minister and the wife on behalf of Team Maritime. This was followed by cutting of the cake which function was handled by Usman and Mrs Mfon Usoro, former Director General of NIMASA.
Tributes by stakeholders
The Chairman of the Organising Committee, Mrs Orakwusi had in her opening speech eulogized the former Minister, saying he had shaped the maritime sector. Orakwusi said one thing that was remarkable was that Amaechi during his time engaged the private sector and worked hard for great results. She also pointed out that Amaechi transformed the transport industry and left a benchmark that will be a big challenge for the next Minister of Transportation. According to her, it was the first time the stakeholders would be honouring a former Minister of Transportation. She added that the landmark left by Amachi was what gave rise to the stakeholders coming together to celebrate him for excellence in the industry. Amaechi, she said performed his duty with a great deal of passion for the development of the industry. Amaechi, she added would easily “jump an Okada just for him not to be late in answering our call. He would drive himself from Lagos to Seme border to check what is hindering trade facilitation. He has achieved a lot. He has made our ports become viable and our railway wake up suddenly”. She also added that there is nothing like abandoned projects under Amaechi. The former Minister dreamed and actualized his dreams in the industry, Oruakwusi said.
His Royal Highness Eze Epara of Ikwere Kingdom in his speech said his people were proud of Amaechi. He called on President Muhammadu Buhari to allow Amaechi to continue to finish what he started.
Amaechi’s wife, Judith described his husband as a committed man who speaks his mind. She also said Amaechi is very blunt and strict. DG of NIMASA, Peterside in his speech recalled his days as Commissioner of Works in Rivers under Amaechi’s administration. He said friends see Amaechi as honest, forthright, man of vision and courage while enemies see him as too blunt. Dakuku said while he was serving as Commissioner, the former governor had ordered him to execute a road project in the state he thought was impossible but which was accomplished about two years later in addition to other similar projects. In the maritime sector, Dakuku said Amaechi had made it clear he does not believe anything is impossible. He recalled when there was the challenge on maritime crime and Amaechi had called him one morning to institute a regime to help in fighting the scourge. Dakuku said he had reminded the Minister of the efforts of the Navy and wondered how a civilian would succeed where the military failed. But the NIMASA DG added that following the support of the former Minister, NIMASA has been able to come up with a security architecture to eradicate maritime crime in the nation’s waterways. “That is the strength of his vision in politics. He does not believe anything is impossible”, Dakuku said.
The highpoint of the celebration was the unveiling of a book titled “Celebrating Amaechi’s Four Years of Excellent Service as Honourable Minister of Transportation”. The book captures most of the projects under Amaechi.
In the book, the Executive Secretary, NSC, Hassan Bello said ”Amaechi is an epitome of consideration, he symbolizes a leader who cares, and that is what galvanizes those of us working with him for he is really a concerned leader. He asks personal questions about the welfare of your family and so on, he is very quick to praise but is slow to criticize”.
Kaduna State Governor, el-Rufai on his part said, “I don’t recall any minister of transportation that has achieved as much in so little time, very difficult circumstances, as Governor Amaechi has done, Kaduna state is one of the beneficiaries of his effort because of the Abuja-Kaduna rail”.
Hadiza Usman also said, “Amaechi has showed exemplary leadership role and leadership capacity. He has led the transportation ministry in such a dynamic way that enables all the agencies maximize and have the best coming out. The minister allows us as heads of agencies to define the part, he provides the leadership that is required to guide us and I will like to commend him for what he has been able to do within the period.
Similarly, the President of NISA, Aminu Umar said, “Amaechi has been instrumental to a lot of achievements in the maritime industry. He brought together all the Nigerian stakeholders and investors to seize the opportunities in the industry”.
Princess Haastrup also said, “I make bold to say that Hon. Rotimi Amaechi has added significant values to the Maritime industry and the larger transportation sector. He is the type of leader we need to propel the economic advancement of our beloved country”.
Amaechi’s Response
Elated Amaechi in his response was full of thanks to the organizers of the event. He went down memory lane recalling his years in government, his encounter with other politicians, friends and enemies, noting that conflict of interest is why there is disagreement among politicians. He spoke about his readiness to always support anybody with proven capacity to deliver irrespective of what people would say. He referred to the former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Austin Opara, a kinsman from Ikwere in Rivers, who he supported to the position against the advice of party faithful. Opara he said became his political leader and he recognized him to the surprise of many. Amaechi also dug into the relationship with the present governor of Rivers state, Nysom Wike, who he supported to run two terms as Chairman of one of the Local government areas. He revealed Wike had wanted to be the State Commissioner for Finance which he refused and instead supported him in the Council position.
Amaechi while recalling that former Governor Peter Odili made him said he is full conscience. He said, “Anything I cannot account for, I don’t do. Anything that will not allow me to sleep, I will not do. If I say I am loyal to you, believe me, I am loyal to you. No matter how much it costs me I will be loyal until I tell you, I am no longer loyal. I will not be disloyal until I tell you so. I will tell you I have gotten to the end. And one example is the former President (Dr. Goodluck Jonathan), I walked up to his office and told him, Mr President, I am tired. That conversation took place at the Banquet Hall. I will not tell you details because I am writing a book about it. And he (Jonathan) confessed he was not the cause of my problems. Amaechi, what is happening to you, I am not in control of it…so so person are responsible, but I am helpless. And I said, Mr President, I take my destiny in my own hands. Once I have any issue, I take to praying, and once I start praying, I will pray to the end of the problem”.
Amaechi also spoke on how he has given women opportunity, recalling that even his wife had to tackle him for doing so while he was governor. According to him, each time he gave a contract to a lady, the wife would confront him on suspecting him for dating that lady. He said this discouraged him at a point as he had to ensure that he saved his marriage as a Catholic family. He said, “When I was in office as governor, if I gave women contract before I got home to eat food, my wife would say, you gave Jane contract, they say you are dating Jane. But if you give a man contract, nobody hears about it. The man would rather seek their own contract.
He further gave an insight on why he recommended the MD of NPA, Hadiza Bala Usman to the President for appointment. Usman, he said performed very well when she worked with him in the 2015 election when he was DG Buhari’s Campaign Organisation. He said Governor el-Rufai was out of the country when he called him to break the news. “I felt that Hadiza deserved to be given an appointment because she served as my PA when I was DG of the Campaign Organisation. She demonstrated enough capacity to manage men and materials. We use to fly with her and the President in the same plane. She would remind us what state to visit and time. Immediately the appointment was announced, she was worried and asked if I had spoken to el-Rufai who was not in the country . And I called to tell him that by the time he arrived Nigeria he would hear that his Chief of Staff had been appointed as MD of NPA. And he replied, it is okay, but added ..you have almost killed me. And I told him, you will get another good Chief of Staff”.
Amaechi equally spoke on how he chose Dakuku then as the LG Chairman, saying he was then a boy in the University. The Minister thrilled the audience when he said Dakuku met his wife in his house at the backyard. He added that later on after serving as Commissioner for Works, he preferred to push Dakuku up to the legislature as against his wish to succeed him as governor. He explained that his reason was because he feared that the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) would come after him as Commissioner for Works. “And if EFCC came after him, I will have no candidate for governorship”, he said. Besides, he explained that he felt a good governor coming from the legislature was better, as he would have travelled round the world and would have seen a lot of things to develop the state.
He further explained that his reason to push Dakuku to become DG of NIMASA after some political travails was because he knew his capacity to handle the position considering how corrupt NIMASA has been over the years. Amaechi praised Dakuku for having achieved much, turning the apex maritime agency round and giving it a good direction. He said NIMASA made it possible for Nigeria to be the best in West African countries in terms of Port State Control.
On Mr Hassan Bello, Executive Secretary of NSC, Amaechi said he has noticed his performance since he assumed office as Minister of Transport. He said, “When his tenure expired, I forgot that it expired, a very important Nigerian called me, saying Bello is a member of PDP and the person is so important that I did not want to hurt the person, extremely important. I said how do I manage this issue. And I said Bello is a nice man and has managed his establishment very well. So, I quickly wrote a memo to the President for him to renew his appointment and it was approved. And when the person called again, I told him the President has confirmed his appointment. What happened was that I was convinced in the ability of Bello”. Amaechi said it was the same reason that made him to appoint Senator Olorunibe Mamora as the Managing Director of Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), among other appointments in the country. For industry stakeholders and other politicians that graced the occasion, it was indeed a night of celebration and excitement.
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