By Ayomide Otitoju
Former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has launched a scathing attack on President Bola Tinubu’s administration, blaming it for Nigeria’s worsening economic crisis and accusing it of pushing millions into poverty.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Amaechi declared that the current administration had “completely buried” the economy. “Any economy that does not put money in the pockets of Nigerians is not an economic policy,” he said.
Amaechi questioned the rationale behind the government’s economic decisions, particularly the removal of petrol subsidies and the floating of the naira. “You’re making savings from removing the subsidy, from floating the naira — where is the money? Where is it going?” he asked.
Since assuming office in 2023, President Tinubu has implemented wide-ranging reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies and currency liberalization. While aimed at long-term stability, the policies have fueled inflation, driven up the cost of living, and increased economic hardship for millions of Nigerians.
Amaechi, a former Minister of Transportation and now a leading figure in the African Democratic Congress (ADC), said the administration’s policies have enriched only a select few. “We have a situation where only members of this government are in the rich class. The middle class has vanished, and the poor are increasing,” he stated. “At this rate, a time will come when we won’t even see the poor anymore — they’ll have all died.”
The former minister is part of a growing opposition coalition under the ADC seeking to unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general election.
When asked about his political ambitions and whether he would commit to a single term if elected president, Amaechi responded, “Of course. I told you. You know that I speak my mind.” He emphasized his honesty, saying, “If I won’t do more than four years, I would say that. If I were to do more than four years, I would say I would do more than four.”
Amaechi also addressed Nigeria’s long-standing practice of rotating power between the North and South. He recalled his role in supporting a northern candidate in 2015 based on a power-sharing agreement. “I led the fight against the PDP government. Why? Because there was an agreement that the government at that time would spend four years. But after four years, the government reneged on it, and I said no, that would be unfair.”
He warned that failure to respect such agreements could lead to political instability. “That will be instability at its peak because the North will react. So, the best thing to do is what? It is to support a northern candidate to maintain the balance of power,” he added.
