Rotimi Amaechi, former minister of transportation and ex-governor of Rivers, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s handling of the economy, suggesting he may contest the 2027 presidential election.
In an interview with the BBC, Amaechi said economic hardship under the current administration is worsening, warning that the situation is no longer sustainable.
His words: “Things are getting harder for Nigerians. We can’t continue this way.”
Amaechi, who lost the 2022 All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential ticket to Tinubu, said he has not made a formal decision on whether to run again.
“Only time will tell,” he said.
His comments follow a recent public endorsement of Tinubu as the APC’s sole candidate in 2027 by the party’s governors.
But Amaechi said party loyalty should not override the duty to speak out when government policies hurt the people.
He said: “If the government is failing the country, you don’t just go along because you’re in the same party. You know that’s not right.
“The responsible thing is to tell the government the truth and speak on behalf of the people.”
He recounted a disturbing experience of seeing a corpse by the roadside, which he attributed to the growing level of poverty and food insecurity.
“People are dying. People are starving. I myself am feeling the effects of hunger. The truth is, I’m also feeling the hunger,” he said.
Amaechi said he believes he still has something to offer Nigeria and is currently in talks with other “concerned Nigerians” to build a united opposition.
His words: “Certainly, I believe I can make a meaningful contribution. We are already in discussions with other concerned Nigerians who share the belief that the country is being mismanaged. The goal is to build a united front.”
The article was originally published on Politics Nigeria.
