Former Governor Rotimi Amaechi has said he was forced out of the Peoples Democratic Party by then-President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Patience Jonathan.

Mr Amaechi, in an interview with Channels TV on Friday, said he was “literally chased out” of the PDP by Mr Jonathan.

“The president, Goodluck and his wife chased me out and handed over the structure to other people. So I moved with all of us who were governors. My offence was because I was chairman of the Governors’ Forum,” Mr Amaechi said. “I left PDP. The country knew what happened. I was literally chased out of PDP. You want me to remind you that I was chased out of PDP? President Goodluck Jonathan with his wife. He took over the political structure in River state and chased me out.”

Mr Amaechi said he would never remain silent in the face of injustice, noting that the same situation occurred in the All Progressives Congress.

Mr Amaechi, who also served as transport minister between 2015 and 2022, has now pitched his tent wth the African Democratic Congress.

“The same happened. I was chased out of APC. Then I went to ADC, but that’s not even the issue. So let’s forget who chased who and who didn’t chase who. I don’t also agree with the policies some of them are pursuing.

“I have sat down with President Goodluck Jonathan several times on the issue of my disagreement and what the policies are. The first day they said President Tinubu won the primary. I told him I don’t agree with him,” Mr Amaechi explained.

The politician added, “And I’m not proven wrong. I would not be president, and everybody would come from the South-South. I would not be president, and all of my friends would be ministers. No. Nigeria is complex, and it’s huge. All interests must come to play. Businessmen’s interests. You must protect their interests. You must assist them to grow their business. You must run the economy in such a way that everybody can have a say.”