The Presidency has dismissed recent comments made by former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, describing his criticisms of President Bola Tinubu’s administration as politically motivated and self-serving.
Amaechi, in a recent BBC interview, had painted a bleak picture of the country, declaring, “People are dying. People are starving. I am also feeling the effects of hunger.”
He also hinted at a possible new political coalition to challenge Tinubu.
Reacting to Amaechi’s remarks in an interview with Sunday Punch, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, accused the former Rivers State governor of using Nigeria’s current economic situation as a springboard to relaunch his political ambitions.
News360 Info reports that Bwala said Amaechi’s outburst lacked sincerity and revealed more about his personal agenda than any real concern for Nigerians.
“Amaechi’s obsession with Tinubu suggests that this is not about policies, it is personal. If you’re truly interrogating policies and issues, your mind must be open,” Bwala stated.
He continued, “If Tinubu solves the problems, he should stay. If not, voters will decide. We’re just two years in.”
The presidential aide took a swipe at Amaechi’s claim that he is experiencing hunger under Tinubu’s government.
Bwala said, “He has been a Speaker, a two-term governor, and a powerful minister. If just two years after leaving office he says he is hungry, then he either mismanaged resources or he is trying to manipulate Nigerians. That alone disqualifies him from being trusted to manage the country’s affairs.
“He contested the APC presidential ticket while still serving as minister and lost to Tinubu. Since then, he has distanced himself from party activities. If he truly cared about Nigeria’s future, he would have supported the party’s candidate once the primaries were over. That he didn’t shows it is not about the people—it’s about his own political future.”
Bwala further criticised the former minister’s birthday celebration, claiming it exposed Amaechi’s true intentions.
He said, “When he celebrated his birthday, did he visit IDP camps or the poor he claims to fight for? No. He gathered political allies plotting to unseat a sitting president. That tells you everything.”
The presidency warned Nigerians to be vigilant and not fall for politicians who exploit national hardship for selfish ends.
“If you are genuinely concerned about Nigeria, don’t politicise the pain of the people. Offer solutions, not power grabs,” Bwala cautioned.
He concluded by urging public figures to focus on actions that truly reflect the well-being of citizens, not political theatrics.
