Amaechi identifies capacity, age, respect to determine Nigeria's leaders

Former Transportation Minister outlines three criteria for leadership as power rotation debate intensifies ahead of 2027

Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has entered Nigeria’s ongoing power rotation debate, insisting that leadership selection should prioritise capacity, age, and respect over regional considerations.

” There are three factors to look for. First is capacity, second is age, and third, which is the last point—is respect,” Amaechi stated.

Speaking on the informal power-sharing arrangement between Nigeria’s North and South, the former Rivers State governor acknowledged the prevailing expectation that the presidency should shift to the North after the South completes its current tenure.

“The unwritten law of power that is now in the South is that we should conclude and transfer power to the North,” he said. “It makes it easier for some of us who come from the South to say, ‘look, we are going to compete because the North has said finish your tenure.'”

Amaechi cautioned that disregarding this rotational understanding could generate inter-regional tensions. “But if you then elect somebody from the North, I am not saying we are not going to campaign, but it will be difficult to give up power, because they will ask the North, ‘why is it that when power comes to the South there is a problem?'”

Despite acknowledging the rotational convention, Amaechi maintained that regional identity should not be the deciding factor in leadership contests.

“But again, whether it’s a southerner or northerner, it’s immaterial. I will support whoever emerges,” he affirmed.

His comments add to the growing political discourse surrounding Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election and demands for equitable power distribution between the country’s two major regions

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled: Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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