I didn't join politics to solve Nigeria's problems; unemployment pushed me

Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi has explained how unemployment sent him into politics.

The former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly and Governor of the oil-rich state disclosed this in an interview with Sunday Punch.

Amaechi further disclosed that he would have been a broadcaster but politics “saved” him.

Responding to a question on when he developed interest in politics, Amaechi said, “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.”

The minister further disclosed that his father named him ‘Rotimi’ after famous Nigerian lawyer, Chief Frederick Rotimi Slade (FRA) William and wanted him to study Law in the university.

Amaechi explained, “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. At that time, in addition to the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, I also wrote an exam to get into the Rivers State University of Science and Technology. I had even started registration as a student of RSUT before I was offered admission (through UTME) to study English Studies and Literature at the University of Port Harcourt. I applied to study English at UNIPORT because the school had no law faculty then.

“However, I have no regrets studying English Studies and Literature because it is all-encompassing. I would be glad if any of my children or those of my friends decide to study English. Most people think English Studies is about grammar but that isn’t so. There is an English language department in English Studies. I read Literature.”