The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has resigned his position following an earlier order made by President Muhammadu Buhari that directed all cabinet members seeking electoral offices at the 2023 elections to leave their positions on or before the 16th of May,2022. Amaechi’s resignation was confirmed in a tweet made by the UK branch of APC’s Twitter handle.
“Nigeria’s Minister of Transportation, HM Chibuike R. Amaechi [@ChibuikeAmaechi] has resigned from the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to focus on his Presidential Campaign,” it read. “Thank you for your service to Nigeria.”
Also following the president’s directive was the Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu, and Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba. Onu was reported to have been spotted at the offices of the SGF where he tendered his resignation letter, with Nwajiuba. Their resignation have been announced much earlier and personally by the president during his speech at the FEC meeting.
However, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, and others who had indicated interest don’t seem to be particularly in a hurry to tender their letters. Ngige himself proclaimed that he intended to meet with the president and his constituents first before making such a decision.
But as the Ministers delay or accept the presidential order, Nigerians have taken to social media to share their views on the announcement. “General Buhari’s order to his ministers who want to contest for the Presidency to resign with immediate effect is commendable, yet incomplete,” said Reno Omokri, a popular Twitter user.
“For it to have the potency it must be expanded to include Emefiele, the CBN Governor, whose conflict of interest is alarming.” Others sounded off on such sentiments calling it “a step in the right direction” for the country.