Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Ameachi, has revealed that he joined politics because he couldn’t secure a job after graduation.
Speaking to Sunday Punch, Amaechi who is one of the most successful politicians of his generation, serving as Speaker and governor of Rivers State said he auditioned for a job in NTA, but joined politics before he found out if he succeeded with the audition.
“My father was a politician. He ran for councillorship during his time. However, I didn’t join politics because I wanted to be a leader or because I wanted to solve Nigeria’s problems. I joined because of unemployment. I also believe there is a part that grace played in it.
“I actually got auditioned at the Nigeria Television Authority to be a broadcaster. I recall that I walked into their office then and said I wanted to see a certain person. But the person I met asked me if I had been auditioned because I had a wonderful voice. I told him I hadn’t and he asked for me to be auditioned. However, before the employment letter came, I was already into politics. That saved me. I would have been a broadcaster by now”, he told the paper.
Amaechi who is believed to have be close to President Buhari also revealed that his father wish that he studied Law led to his being named after late legal luminary Rotimi Williams.
“I joined politics in the university. My father actually wanted me to study Law. A lot of people don’t know that he named me ‘Rotimi’ after the famous lawyer, Frederick Rotimi Alade Williams. My father never met him (Williams) but he admired FRA’s larger-than-life persona and the fact that he was a brilliant lawyer.
“So, my father believed that I would be a lawyer and I should be able to do as well as FRA. Unfortunately, it was difficult to get admission to study Law. The first admission offer I got was to study Secretarial Administration and we all laughed over that at home”, he was quoted as saying.
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