Former Minister Rotimi Amaechi calls for a unified opposition to remove President Tinubu, citing Nigeria’s deepening economic crisis and widespread hunger
Rotimi Amaechi, former Minister of Transportation and two time governor of Rivers State, has strongly suggested that a coalition of opposition parties should remove President Bola Tinubu from office if Nigeria is to escape its deepening economic crisis.
Also read: Amaechi still bitter over primary defeat by Tinubu – APC
In a candid interview with the BBC, Amaechi, a founding member and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), expressed profound concern over the country’s deteriorating condition.
He also indicated his readiness to help forge a new opposition coalition aimed at rescuing the nation from its current predicament.
“People are dying. People are starving. I myself am feeling the effects of hunger,” he stated, painting a grim picture of daily life under the current administration.
Amaechi’s outspoken comments follow the APC’s recent endorsement of Tinubu as its sole presidential candidate for 2027, a move Amaechi openly questioned despite his long standing loyalty to the party.
While reiterating his allegiance, he warned that loyalty to a political platform should never supersede national conscience.
He stated emphatically, “If the government is failing the country, you don’t just go along because you’re in the same party. You know that’s not right.”
Though he did not explicitly confirm a 2027 presidential bid, the former minister implied the option remained open.
“Certainly, I believe I can make a meaningful contribution,” he added, hinting that his political journey might not yet be over.
Amaechi spoke of widespread poverty, spiralling food insecurity, and daily tragedies that now mark the national landscape.
People are dying. People are starving. I myself am feeling the effects of hunger.
Reflecting on his years as Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Amaechi lamented that the number of out of school children, once ten million, had since dramatically increased.
He directly linked the economic hardship to worsening insecurity across the nation.
“The Boko Haram insurgency is not just a religious crisis. Many of those involved are driven by desperation and hunger,” he asserted, connecting terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping to a broader socioeconomic collapse.
Amaechi’s strong declaration adds significant momentum to an emerging political realignment within Nigeria.
Discussions are already underway among key opposition figures, including Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party and Peter Obi of the Labour Party, as they explore the possibility of forming a unified front against Tinubu in the 2027 elections.
Even former Governor Nasir El Rufai of Kaduna State, once a key Tinubu ally, has shown interest in backing an opposition alliance.
However, as opposition forces gather strength, the ruling party continues to absorb defectors.
This trend prompts fears of Nigeria drifting toward a one party state, a scenario Amaechi warned could severely undermine democracy and silence dissent.
Also read: Amaechi, El-Rufai and Tinubu’s kernel
“We’re thinking that if we come together and win the election, the country will certainly witness change,” he said, suggesting an urgent need for a credible alternative to the current leadership.
