Rotimi Amaechi, former Minister of Transportation and twice governor of Rivers State, has called on Nigeria’s opposition parties to come together and remove President Bola Tinubu, citing the country’s deepening economic and social crises.
In a candid interview with the BBC, Amaechi a founding member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) did not hold back in expressing his worries about the state of the nation.
“People are dying. People are starving. I am feeling the effects of hunger myself,” he revealed, painting a bleak picture of life under the current government.
His comments come shortly after the APC officially endorsed Tinubu as their candidate for the 2027 presidential election, a move Amaechi openly questioned. While reaffirming his loyalty to the party, he stressed that allegiance to party should never come at the expense of the country’s welfare.
“If the government is failing, you don’t stay silent just because you’re in the same party,” he stated firmly.
Though Amaechi stopped short of declaring a presidential bid in 2027, he hinted at a continued commitment to shaping Nigeria’s future.
He pointed to escalating poverty, food shortages, and insecurity as the nation’s most urgent problems. Reflecting on his time as Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Amaechi lamented the dramatic increase in out-of-school children from 10 million during his tenure to even higher numbers today.
Linking the rise in terrorism and banditry to socioeconomic hardships, Amaechi said, “Boko Haram insurgency is driven by desperation and hunger, not just religion.”
His outspoken stance adds momentum to ongoing discussions among opposition leaders such as Atiku Abubakar (PDP) and Peter Obi (Labour Party) who are exploring ways to unite against Tinubu’s re-election. Even Nasir El-Rufai, a former APC ally, has shown interest in supporting an opposition coalition.
Meanwhile, the ruling party continues to attract defectors from other parties, raising concerns about a looming one-party dominance that Amaechi warns could threaten democracy and stifle dissent.
“We believe that if we unite and win, real change is possible,” he concluded, emphasizing the urgent need for a credible alternative to the current government.
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