African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate, Rotimi Amaechi, has raised concerns over the worsening economic hardship and hunger in Nigeria, declaring that the country is in trouble.
Amaechi said the ADC would prioritise the economy, national security and the fight against corruption if elected in the 2027 general elections.
The former governor stated this during an interview with AIT on Wednesday.
According to him, tackling insecurity and economic challenges would require a significant reduction in corruption, which he described as a major obstacle to Nigeria’s development.
“You must deal with insecurity, economy, and corruption before this country can progress. And to do all that, corruption will have to come down because there is no money for anybody to steal,” he said.
Amaechi attributed the government’s inability to adequately address some of the country’s challenges to the alleged diversion of public resources into private hands.
He also questioned the benefits of the removal of the fuel subsidy, arguing that resources meant for public development were allegedly being diverted.
“The reason why these things are not being done is that the money used to fund these things is in private pockets. Tinubu removed subsidy, what are the benefits of subsidy when the money is in private pockets?” he asked.
Amaechi further expressed concern over the contrast between widespread poverty and what he described as lavish spending among some Nigerians.
“That’s why you see people in the South holding private parties and in the North people are dying.
“With the level of hunger, when they invite me to private parties, I just sit down and wonder where they get the money from going by how high poverty is in Nigeria,” he said.
The ADC vice-presidential candidate also criticised Nigeria’s dependence on imported finished products, saying the situation was an indication of the country’s economic difficulties.
“We import over 46 per cent of finished goods; Nigeria is in trouble,” he stated.
Amaechi also claimed that President Bola Tinubu had been booed by some Nigerians during a journey from the Lagos airport to his residence.
“I watched people boo Tinubu from the Lagos International Airport to his house. If we become president nobody will do that, they will be clapping for us because we will change Nigeria,” he said.
He further pledged that the ADC-led administration would deliver significant changes within its first year in office.
“This time I will say this: if Nigeria does not change one year after we get into office, come to me, and I will resign,” Amaechi stated.
