I will address Nigeria’s insecurity, Buratai and I chased criminals into the bush, Amaechi declares

Former minister of transportation and presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Rotimi Amaechi, said he would address the insecurity in Niger state if elected president.

Telescope.ng reports that Amaechi made this known while speaking at a meeting with the Niger governor, Abubakar Bello and APC delegates in the state on Thursday, May 19.

Amaechi said he has experience in combating insecurity because he curbed it as governor of Rivers.

He noted that as governor, he and Tukur Buratai, former chief of army staff, chased criminals into the bush in Rivers without bulletproof vests.

Amaechi noted: “I know what you’re suffering; I was governor of Rivers state when they were kidnapping two months old children, and I never slept until everybody slept.

“General Buratai is not here today, he would have told you the story. Buratai, myself the former Inspector General of Police (Suleiman Abba) asked them, we used to chase criminals in the bush.

“I remember one day I was chasing criminals with Gen Sarkin Yaki Bello (then Commander of the Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta), we were running and he stopped and asked me, ‘Your Excellency, are you wearing a bulletproof vest?’ I said why are you asking, he said ‘what if they shoot you,’ I said ‘are you wearing one?’ He said no, and I asked ‘what if they shoot you.’

“But in six months, we brought down insecurity in Rivers state.”

The former governor said having occupied different public offices, he is more experienced than any other presidential hopeful.

He further stated: “Another difference between me and them, is that I am a politician, they’re not. The difference is that I can walk to you and I’ll talk, discuss with you.

“I can connect easily with the people. I wasn’t born into a rich family. My father was a poor man, the only English my mother knows how to speak is pidgin english. I ate garri three times a day, and I still eat garri three times a day till today, so I know poverty.”

On his part, the Niger governor asked the delegates if they were satisfied with Amaechi’s submission and the delegates repeatedly chorused a “Yes.”