Former Minister of Transportation and ex-Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, has launched a scathing critique of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, warning that Nigeria’s economic collapse can only be reversed through a united opposition effort to remove the current government from power.
In a candid interview with the BBC, Amaechi—who is also a founding member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)—painted a bleak picture of worsening poverty and hunger across the country. “People are dying.
People are starving. I myself am feeling the effects of hunger,” he said.
The former minister’s comments follow the APC’s recent endorsement of President Tinubu as its sole candidate for the 2027 elections, a move Amaechi strongly questioned. While affirming his loyalty to the APC, he stressed that party allegiance should not override national interest.
“If the government is failing the country, you don’t just go along because you’re in the same party. That’s not right,” he stated.
Although Amaechi did not explicitly declare a 2027 presidential bid, he left the door open. “Certainly, I believe I can make a meaningful contribution,” he said, hinting at a possible return to frontline politics.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s growing hardship, Amaechi described a nation in distress—marked by widespread poverty, rising food insecurity, and a surge in violence.
He noted that during his time as Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, the number of out-of-school children was estimated at 10 million, a figure that has since grown significantly.
He further linked worsening insecurity to the economic downturn, suggesting that desperation and hunger are fueling terrorism and criminal activity. “The Boko Haram insurgency is not just a religious crisis.
Many of those involved are driven by desperation and hunger,” he explained.
Amaechi’s remarks come amid rising political movements seeking to challenge Tinubu’s presidency in 2027.
Discussions are reportedly underway among key opposition leaders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party’s Peter Obi, about forming a united front.
Even former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai—once a Tinubu ally—is said to be open to supporting such a coalition.
However, as opposition forces mobilize, the ruling APC continues to attract defectors from other parties, raising concerns about the possible emergence of a one-party state. Amaechi cautioned that such dominance could erode democratic accountability and suppress dissent.
“We’re thinking that if we come together and win the election, the country will certainly witness change,” he said, underlining the urgency for a credible and unified alternative to the current administration.
