Amaechi Slams Tinubu’s Leadership
Quits APC, Calls for National Reawakening
Former Minister of Transportation and ex-Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, has launched a scathing critique of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, declaring that he never saw Tinubu as fit to lead the nation and that the country under his leadership has been completely “destroyed.”
Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday during an interview after the unveiling of the interim leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Amaechi announced that he resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC) the previous night and called for a transformative political movement driven by ordinary Nigerians.
“This is no longer just about changing the government—it’s about saving Nigeria. The country is in ruins. People can’t afford food. There’s no money in circulation. Inflation is suffocating the masses,” Amaechi said.
He accused the ruling APC of colluding with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in a bid to manipulate the upcoming 2027 elections, warning that the government is more focused on consolidating power than addressing the suffering of Nigerians.
“The federal government is scheming to hijack the next election with INEC’s backing. But what we need now is not just another political party—we need a people-driven movement to take back the country,” he asserted.
Amaechi expressed surprise that he was never expelled from the APC despite warning the party leadership not to invite him to any meetings, citing deep dissatisfaction with the party’s direction and ethical failings.
“I officially resigned last night. I haven’t attended a single meeting. In fact, I told them not to even bother inviting me. It baffles me that I wasn’t expelled earlier. You can’t belong to a club where corruption is rampant and remain silent,” he said.
When asked about his longstanding opposition to Tinubu’s candidacy, Amaechi did not mince words:
“I never believed Tinubu was the right person to govern Nigeria—never. And now, people are actually longing for Buhari’s days, which speaks volumes. Under Buhari, the dollar was around ₦460. Today, it’s ₦1,580. That’s over a 100 percent increase.”
Responding to the argument that the current economic policies, such as the exchange rate liberalization, might be deliberate, Amaechi countered:
“Deliberate or not, any government that doesn’t prioritize the well-being of its people is misguided. Tinubu openly said he’s not here to make Nigerians happy. What kind of leadership is that?”
On whether his bold stance stemmed from political ambition, the former minister replied:
“I have every right to be ambitious. That doesn’t make me overambitious. What I’m saying is grounded in the reality Nigerians are living every day.”
Amaechi’s remarks add to the growing wave of discontent among key political figures, as the opposition bloc begins to realign ahead of the 2027 elections.
