Vice-presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Rotimi Amaechi, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration over the rising cost of living, arguing that the removal of fuel subsidy without adequate measures to cushion its impact has worsened conditions for Nigerians.
Amaechi, a former Rivers State governor, made the remarks on Friday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
He challenged the Federal Government to reduce petrol prices to N600 per litre by Saturday, offering to withdraw as Atiku Abubakar’s running mate and campaign for President Tinubu if the price dropped to that level.
“Tomorrow, if you are doubtful come with your camera tomorrow in the morning and I will go to a filling station and I will buy fuel, if it comes down to this thing, I Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi will withdraw as the vice presidential candidate of Atiku and campaign for President Tinubu if it has come down,” Amaechi said.
He also described the 2027 presidential election as a choice between “life and death,” saying President Tinubu represented what he called “the choice of death.”
Amaechi further accused the President Tinubu administration of being more corrupt than the government of former President Muhammadu Buhari, under whom he served as Minister of Transportation.
“If you compare the two you will think there was no corruption under Buhari’s government,” he said, arguing that corruption under Buhari was less visible because, according to him, it was concealed.
Asked whether he was involved in corruption during Buhari’s administration, Amaechi denied the allegation.
“I have said it several times. The other time Maupe was interviewing me and she asked, ‘are you corrupt?’ and I said no and I am waiting for the person that will prove that I am corrupt. I will say it again and again, I will not near corruption, I will not get close to corruption,” he said.
Amaechi also criticised the President Tinubu administration over infrastructure development, challenging it to name projects it had completed since taking office.
He cited the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and its reported cost as an example, while comparing the administration’s record with Buhari’s government.
“By this time in the first tenure of Buhari’s government we have completed Abuja-Kaduna rail. Tell them to show one rail they have completed, they should name one project they have completed, just one, including Television House like Channels,” he said.