Former Rivers state governor and erstwhile Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, says President Bola Tinubu would not cede power to the younger generation without a fight.
The Cable reports that Amaechi stated this in Abuja at a national conference on strengthening democracy in Nigeria, organised by the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development.
In his words;
“None of you here seated can defend the votes. If you have complained, complain, Nigerians have been clapping for you. The only way Ibrahim Shekarau became governor was because people lined up. It happened in Ghana before the election of the last president. Two days later, a lot of us were called to intervene. But why did they do that? The people were ready to die. You are talking and abusing everybody. Nobody has power and will give it to you — not even me. If you want a pastor as president, go and get one. The politician is there in Nigeria to steal, maim, and kill to remain in power. If you think Tinubu will give it to you, you are wasting your time.”
In October 2024, Amaechi said he was disappointed in Nigerians for their laid-back disposition to the prevailing economic hardship.
“The people should be angry. There should be protests. Not even protests against anybody but against the politicians that ‘we won’t vote’,” he had said.
The ruling APC had clapped back at Amaechi, saying he was one of those who destroyed Nigeria.
Amaechi was one of the 14 hopefuls for the presidential ticket of the APC before the 2023 general election.
He polled second in the primary election with 316 votes, behind eventual winner Tinubu, who secured 1, 271 votes.