Former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, says opposition political parties can come together to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.
Amaechi, who turned 60, made the statement during his birthday celebration. He said he told Tinubu before the 2023 election that he would not support or vote for him.
Speaking on his reasons for rejecting Tinubu, Amaechi said he made his decision based on competence. “I met President Tinubu in Yola and I told him I would not work for you and I would not vote for you,” he said. “I was convinced that there was an issue of capacity.”
Amaechi criticised some Nigerians for voting based on religion and ethnicity. He said many who raise questions about capacity are the same ones who promote ethnic politics. According to him, this pattern has led Nigeria into its current problems.
He stated that if Nigerians want change, the opposition must unite and put national interest before personal ambition. “If you want us to remove the man in power, we can remove him from this power,” Amaechi said. “We want to submit to the opposition if the opposition can lead us out of this problem.”
Poverty and Insecurity Are Products of Government Neglect
Amaechi addressed the theme of the event, “Weaponisation of poverty as a means of underdevelopment.” He accused Nigerian leaders of using poverty to control citizens. He said they don’t care about the poor.
“No Nigerian leader cares for the poor, because they know that Nigerians can do nothing to them once they are in power,” he said. “When Nigerians protested, the president increased the price of fuel because you’ll do nothing.”
He said poor Nigerians are being punished for doing nothing wrong, and that national wealth is being looted by those in power. Amaechi asked what happened to the ₦4–₦5 trillion previously used for oil subsidy.
“If they dump it in the economy, you would not be crying,” he added. “It is a country of sharing money.”
Hunger Drives Insecurity, Says Amaechi
Amaechi said rising insecurity in Nigeria is directly linked to hunger and poverty. He argued that leaders must address poverty to reduce insecurity.
“Insecurity is 99 per cent poverty,” he said. “When I was the governor, when there was an increase in insecurity, I knew there was no money in the system. I directed my commissioner for finance to release money and pay salaries. Then insecurity reduced. So it’s about poverty.”
He said the current government has failed to respond to growing hunger in the country. “Now you have a Muslim-Muslim ticket. Let the Muslim-Muslim market come out now. It’s time. We are all hungry. All of us are. If you are not hungry, I am,” Amaechi said.
He also accused government officials of showing no fear while building massive homes. “The current government and their agencies, they’re not even afraid. If you see the kind of houses they’re building,” he added.
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