Rotimi Amaechi, former minister of transportation, has accused President Bola Tinubu of undermining democracy, despite his past role in the pro-democracy struggle under the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO).
Amaechi spoke on Tuesday during the national convention of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), where he criticised the current administration’s handling of governance, security, and the economy.
He questioned what he described as restrictions on citizens’ constitutional rights, particularly the right to free assembly.
“Why would the government official try to deny you your right to gather when the constitution says you can gather?” he said.
Amaechi said it was contradictory for a leader who once aligned with NADECO to now be associated with actions he described as anti-democratic.
“What do you say to a man who said he fought on the side of NADECO? It means it was an attempt to punish Nigerians if that’s what they stood for,” he said.
NIGERIA’S SECURITY
He also accused the government of failing to respond adequately to insecurity across the country, alleging that citizens in some communities are being forced to flee like in conflict situations.
“I watched yesterday in Nasarawa. People were running away from their community like civil war,” he said.
Amaechi criticised the administration’s economic policies, including tax reforms, arguing that they are worsening hardship for Nigerians.
He said corporate taxation levels were too high and questioned how government revenue is being utilised.
“What are they doing with the money?” he asked.
The former minister also accused the government of failing to take decisive leadership in responding to security crises, contrasting it with his time as governor of Rivers State when, according to him, swift action was taken against criminals.
“When I was governor, you can’t commit a crime in Rivers State and I will sleep. I will not sleep until the person is arrested,” he said.
Amaechi urged opposition forces to unite ahead of future elections, insisting that the ADC must present a “viable candidate” capable of challenging the ruling party.
He warned against ethnic and religious politics, saying such divisions had contributed to Nigeria’s current challenges.
“If you do ethnicity, we are back to square one,” he said.
