By Ekuson Nw’Ogbunka
Abuja
Former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi says his decision to adopt traditional Igbo attire is a deliberate protest against the treatment of the Igbo people in Nigeria, not a fashion choice.
Speaking in an interview with Arise Television recently, Amaechi explained that he began wearing the Isi-Agu shirt with the red cap to draw public attention to what he described as injustice toward the Igbo.
“I didn’t like the way the Igbo people (Ndigbo) were being treated in Nigeria,” he said. “So, in protest, I started wearing Igbo clothes with the red cap. I wanted the country to see that something is wrong and needs to change.”
Amaechi, who hails from the Ikwerre ethnic group in Rivers State, said his connection to the Igbo goes beyond politics. He pointed to shared cultural, linguistic, and culinary ties between the Ikwerre and Igbo communities.
While acknowledging that some Ikwerre people do not identify as Igbo, the former minister said he proudly associates with the Igbo community. “I even said it clearly—I’m an Igbo man,” he stated.
For Amaechi, the clothing carries a clear message. The Isi-Agu and red cap are widely recognized symbols of Igbo pride and identity, and wearing them in public is his way of standing in solidarity with the group.
He stressed that the move was intentional and meant to challenge perceptions and spark national conversation. “The clothes are a message,” he said, adding that he wanted Nigerians to recognize that change was needed.
Through the gesture, Amaechi said he hopes to advocate for unity, respect, and equal treatment for the Igbo people. He described attire as a simple but powerful tool for expressing dissent and calling for justice.
