Former Minister of Transportation and ex-Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, has openly criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration, urging opposition groups to unite and unseat him if Nigeria is to overcome its deepening economic woes.
In an interview with the BBC, Amaechi — a founding member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) — painted a bleak picture of life under the current government.
He described the hardship faced by Nigerians as severe, admitting that even he has not been spared from the impact.
“People are dying. Hunger is everywhere. I’m also feeling the effects,” he said, highlighting the urgent need for national redirection.
Amaechi’s comments come amid growing speculation over his political future and shortly after the APC endorsed President Tinubu as its sole candidate for the 2027 election.
The former governor expressed concern over this endorsement, stressing that party loyalty should not come before national interest.
“You cannot continue to support a government simply because you belong to the same political party, especially when it is clearly failing the people,” he said.
While he stopped short of formally declaring a run for the presidency in 2027, Amaechi hinted that he could still play a major role in reshaping Nigeria’s political direction.
“I believe I still have something to offer,” he said.
He decried the country’s rising poverty, worsening food insecurity, and growing instability, warning that the nation’s challenges are far deeper than they appear on the surface.
Drawing from his time as Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Amaechi recalled that the number of out-of-school children stood at 10 million during his tenure — a figure that has since worsened.
He attributed the rise in criminal activities, such as terrorism, banditry, and kidnappings, to economic desperation, adding, “Boko Haram isn’t just a religious issue; hunger and hopelessness are major drivers.”
His remarks are seen as lending weight to ongoing discussions among opposition figures on forming a broad coalition to challenge the APC in the next election.
Talks are reportedly ongoing among key political actors, including PDP’s Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s Peter Obi, who are considering a joint effort to reclaim power in 2027.
Even former Kaduna governor and one-time Tinubu ally, Nasir El-Rufai, is said to be leaning toward supporting an opposition alliance.
Amaechi cautioned against the growing dominance of the ruling party, warning that the flood of defectors into the APC could gradually erode Nigeria’s democratic space and silence meaningful opposition.
“There is a real possibility for change if we can unite and present a credible alternative,” he said, signalling support for a broader political realignment ahead of the next general elections.
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