Former Rivers State Governor and African Democratic Congress vice-presidential candidate, Rotimi Amaechi, has made a surprising statement regarding the ongoing presidential race. During an appearance on Channels Television's Politics Today, Amaechi expressed his willingness to withdraw from the race and campaign for President Bola Tinubu if petrol prices drop to N600 per litre. This statement comes amidst rising transportation costs and general economic hardship in Nigeria.
Amaechi criticized the Federal Government over its handling of the economy, specifically referencing the President's commitment to lowering transportation costs by October 1, 2025. He challenged the Tinubu administration to prove that its economic reforms have improved living standards. Amaechi's comments have sparked interest in the political landscape, particularly in light of his role as the vice-presidential candidate for Atiku Abubakar on the ADC ticket.
The former Minister of Transportation questioned whether the administration had fulfilled its promise of delivering lower transport fares. He referenced the President's October 1 Independence Day speech in 2025, where he claimed that transportation costs would decrease. Amaechi asked citizens to assess whether this promise had been kept, citing the example of travel costs from Nyanya to Abuja.
Amaechi argued that the average citizen has yet to experience tangible benefits from key policy decisions, including the removal of the petrol subsidy. He emphasized that the essence of the subsidy removal, according to the President, was to better the lives of Nigerians. However, Amaechi stressed that citizens are yet to feel the positive impact of this decision.
The former Governor also criticized current tax policies, stating that recent minimum wage increases have been negated by statutory deductions and secondary taxation. He noted that government increases in salary are often offset by taxes that take away a significant percentage of the increment. Amaechi questioned whether citizens would vote for Tinubu, who has implemented policies that have reduced their take-home pay.
Amaechi emphasized that economic survival remains the paramount concern for the electorate. He stated that Atiku Abubakar represents life and that citizens must first be alive to participate in the political process. Amaechi warned that persistent economic hardship could trigger severe political consequences for the governing party as citizens contend with rising costs.
The politician concluded by stating that his personal experiences with family healthcare costs have highlighted the systemic pressures facing households. He expressed concern that the current economic situation is killing people and that the governing party may face repercussions if the situation does not improve.
Key points
- Rotimi Amaechi may withdraw from the presidential race and campaign for President Bola Tinubu if petrol prices drop to N600 per litre.
- Amaechi criticized the Federal Government's handling of the economy and its failure to deliver on promises of lower transportation costs.
- The politician emphasized that economic survival remains the paramount concern for the electorate.
