Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi has revealed the important role Sokoto played in the ouster of former President Goodluck Jonathan from Aso Rock.
Amaechi speaking at the 15th National Council on Transportation said: “I have been to Sokoto severally, especially in 2015 during our struggle to change Nigeria. Sokoto played a very critical role in that struggle. The then governor, Aliyu Wamakko and then Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, worked together and closely with us to ensure we achieved our objective.
“The two of them moved with us to the APC; they were equally part of the new Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). I recall my conversations with Tambuwal when we moved to APC. I had told him that we had moved and he asked whether I was the only one. I told him that I moved with the governors, but he inquired if his governor, Wamakko, equally moved with us. I told him we will issue a statement concerning his governor. As God will have it, the governor himself issued a statement declaring that he was solidly in support of the movement to the APC.
“This meeting today reminds me of all that struggle and our meetings in Sokoto, especially with Wamakko and Tambuwal to strategise for the 2015 presidential election. I must thank him and other Nigerians for that support because the desired change would not have come if they did not come together to support and work for the APC to ensure the emergence of President Buhari.
“The truth of the matter is that as Nigerians, we knew it would have been difficult for Nigeria if PDP had won that presidential election. All of us were scared of what would happen to Nigeria and that was why we decided that the only way to stop what will happen is to ensure that PDP did not win and to God’s glory and our prayers, APC won.
“When I said things would have been difficult, I was talking about the economy. As at that time, if you remember, fuel queues had returned, poverty was coming back, the money stolen was too much that there was no money in the hands of Nigerians, and there was need and desire for a change, and effective change that will safe resources for Nigerians.”
“We are in Sokoto to discuss transport policy, the modality in transportation and how to take transportation to the next level. I know that what will interest you is what will happen to your state in terms of railway. The railway line connecting Kebbi, Zamfara and Sokoto is in the pipeline.
“Once we conclude the technical aspect, we will take it to the president for approval. Once we conclude works on these states, the 36 states mandate, which the president gave us, would have been concluded. I was pleased to see that the airport has been completed.