Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has insisted that President Bola Tinubu is not Nigeria’s main political problem, attributing the country’s governance challenges to the ineffectiveness of opposition parties.
Amaechi spoke on Thursday during a joint press conference by opposition leaders in Abuja themed “Urgent Call to Save Nigeria’s Democracy.”
“Tinubu is not our problem. The problem is the opposition. We are our own problem. When the opposition is ready, Nigeria will change,” Amaechi said.
He stressed that opposition parties must clearly differentiate themselves from the ruling government to earn the trust of Nigerians.
“The first thing we must know is that we must separate ourselves from the government in power. We must show the difference,” he added.
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Amaechi also recalled his time in government under former President Muhammadu Buhari, alleging that electoral reform bills were once stalled due to ministerial interference.
“When I was in government during Buhari’s time, he wanted electoral reform. A few ministers went to him and convinced him not to sign, saying that if he signed, Russia would hack the system and impose the wrong president on us, and he refused to sign,” he said.
He noted the irony that some of the same voices are now publicly demanding electoral reform.
“The same people are now shouting electoral reform,” he added.
Amaechi argued that President Tinubu’s political strength is reinforced by the weakness of his opponents.
“His strategy is simple. He’s trying something today, you are weak. He puts something bigger, you are weaker,” he said.
He also questioned the boldness of the President in the face of public criticism, citing his international engagements despite allegations of corruption.
“Which president goes to France when you are shouting that he is stealing our money? He still goes there. He will ask, ‘what will you do?’ You can do nothing,” Amaechi said.
Amaechi concluded that meaningful political change will only occur when opposition parties demonstrate the ability to act decisively.
“The day you show him you can do something, God will bless you,” he said.