Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has said Nigerian politicians will not stop stealing unless citizens hold them accountable.
PrimeTimes Nigeria reports that Amaechi stated this on Friday during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time.
The former Rivers State governor said politicians were impoverishing Nigerians, adding that citizens must wake up and demand better governance.
Amaechi recalled that he had made a similar statement while serving as governor of Rivers State during an event organised by Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka.
He said, “As a governor of Rivers State at Freedom House in a ceremony organised by Prof Wole Soyinka, I told Nigerians that we, the politicians, will not stop stealing if Nigerians don’t stone us.
“The politicians are impoverishing Nigerians. I’m a different politician, and there are others as well.
“A lot of governors have made positive contributions. But governance is slowly dying, and it’s quite painful.”
Amaechi Touts Experience
Amaechi, who is seeking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections, also described himself as the most qualified and electable aspirant in the party.
He said his leadership experience and relative youth placed him ahead of other aspirants in the race.
The ADC presidential contest also includes former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, and former Northern Nigeria Development Company boss, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.
Asked why the ADC should choose him over other aspirants, Amaechi said he had held major leadership positions that gave him an advantage.
He cited his experience as former governor of Rivers State, former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, former chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and former Minister of Transportation.
The former minister said those roles had prepared him for national leadership.