Mr Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Transportation has said that his insistence to support President Muhammadu Buhari despite several offers made by former President Goodluck Jonathan for him to stay in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was because he was detribalised.
The minister who was the governor of Rivers State at the time, said he his decision to support President Buhari, who was then the flag bearer of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and later won the presidential poll in 2015 rather than Jonathan noted that he did so because he was not tribalistic.
Amaechi disclosed this in Port Harcourt on Saturday while receiving some PDP politicians who cross carpeted to the APC in the state.
Notable among the defectors were a former Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Dr John Bazia; Chief Alabo Michael West, Chima Obinna, and Chief Salvation Ezengwogwo.
The minister said he fell out with Jonathan because he decamped from the PDP to the APC.
He said, “Tell them, from next year prayer will start. I will come to Port Harcourt like I used to and I will say this will happen and it will happen.
“Let me tell you who I am. I do not drink, I have never tasted alcohol in my life. I don’t smoke; I am not tribalistic. Whether in Rivers State or in Nigeria, I am not tribalistic.
‘If I were tribalistic, President Goodluck Jonathan offered me an opportunity to remain in the PDP, he offered me all sorts of opportunities and I said that I have given my allegiance to Buhari because I am not tribalistic.”