Former Minister of Transportation and ex-Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, has taken a swipe at President Bola Tinubu over the handling of the fuel subsidy removal, stating that Nigerians are yet to feel any positive impact from the policy.
Speaking during a radio interview on Wednesday, Amaechi questioned the transparency surrounding the reported ₦8 trillion saved from the subsidy withdrawal, demanding that the Federal Government provide clear answers on how the funds are being utilized.
“Where is the money from the fuel subsidy the president removed?” Amaechi asked pointedly. “It got to the point where the savings were said to be ₦8 trillion. If we deploy that amount now, Nigerians should feel the impact. Who is collecting that money? The president needs to tell us.”
Amaechi, who recently authored a book titled “Weaponization of Poverty,” explained that poverty has become a deliberate political tool used by leaders across party lines to keep citizens subdued and dependent. He backed former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s statement that Nigerian politicians take pride in impoverishing their people.
“I never said it is only this government that is weaponizing poverty,” Amaechi said. “That’s why I agree with El-Rufai — politicians are proud of it. The more they steal from the people, the more they impoverish them, and that’s how they maintain control.”
On the escalating political crisis in Rivers State, Amaechi fiercely criticized President Tinubu’s earlier suggestion of declaring a state of emergency in the state, calling it unconstitutional and reckless. He warned that such actions, if normalized, could lead Nigeria down a dangerous path.
“The president was not right to even consider declaring a state of emergency in Rivers. I’m more disappointed in the lawyer who supported that move — he was once my lawyer. As a young lawyer myself, I can say the constitution does not give the president the power to suspend a governor,” Amaechi stated.
He cautioned that if left unchecked, this kind of executive overreach could become a recurring threat to democracy.
“This means that tomorrow, whoever becomes president can wake up and do the same. The rule of law does not support it, but Nigerians are also to blame because we allowed it to happen.”
Amaechi called on Nigerians to take cues from countries like Bangladesh and South Korea, where citizens have removed leaders who strayed from democratic norms.
He also linked the roots of Rivers State’s unrest to widespread poverty and youth militancy, warning that the same forces could ignite instability in other parts of the country if not addressed.
“When the militancy started in Rivers, I warned that it was driven by poverty. If we ignore it, it will spread.”
This is a great perspective.