Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has disclosed that he explicitly informed President Bola Tinubu of his decision not to support him in the 2023 elections.
During a meeting in Yola, Adamawa State, prior to the elections, Amaechi made it clear to Tinubu that he would neither work for nor vote for him.
In addition, former Vice President Abubakar accused Tinubu’s administration of exploiting poverty as a political instrument, claiming that economic struggles are being manipulated to maintain control over the populace.
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, expressed concerns regarding the current leadership in Nigeria, suggesting that the nation has been overrun by urban bandits.
At a public lecture in Abuja celebrating his 60th birthday, themed ‘Weaponisation of Poverty as Means of Underdevelopment: A Case Study of Nigeria,’ Amaechi asserted that the issue was not merely about political affiliation but rather about capability.
“I met President Tinubu in Yola and told him I would not work for him nor vote for him. I did not cast my vote for Tinubu; I communicated this to him beforehand,” Amaechi stated.
He emphasised that his stance was not due to allegiance to the PDP or APC, but rather a matter of capacity. He expressed concern over the current government’s lack of accountability regarding the funds saved from subsidy removal, questioning how the money was utilised.
“The government claimed to have halted N5 trillion in fuel subsidy payments; the pressing question is: What have they done with that money? If reinvested into the economy, it could have alleviated poverty,” he remarked.
Amaechi highlighted that insecurity and poverty are significant challenges facing the nation. Reflecting on his tenure as Rivers State Governor, he noted that rising crime rates were linked to a lack of financial resources circulating in the economy.
“When I was Governor, I instructed my Commissioner of Finance to raise funds to pay contractors and salaries. I believed that once payments were made, insecurity would diminish. It’s fundamentally about poverty,” he explained.
He lamented that the political discourse often revolves around religious and ethnic identities rather than the essential need for capacity building, stating, “Hunger knows no religious boundaries. We must prioritise the nation above all else.”
Atiku Accuses Tinubu of Exploiting Poverty
Atiku Abubakar, also speaking at the event, accused Tinubu’s administration of intentionally using poverty as a political tool. He stated that the government has failed to meet public expectations and is leveraging poverty to manipulate the citizenry.
“Atiku said, ‘You may label me a conspirator; that’s precisely why we are uniting to prevent them from continuing to weaponise poverty.’ He acknowledged Amaechi as a key ally in their efforts to combat poverty without resorting to state machinery for political gain.
### El-Rufai: Urban Bandits Have Seized Control
Former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam El-Rufai, remarked that Nigeria is facing its gravest challenges since 1914, attributing the crisis to the emergence of urban bandits in leadership roles. He urged Nigerians to elect competent leaders capable of advancing the country.
Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, shared his personal revelations regarding poverty, asserting that true poverty is often obscured in urban areas. He called for leaders to genuinely care for the citizens they govern.
Former Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Seriake Dickson, cautioned against past collaborations that led to governmental failures, urging Nigerians to remain vigilant in their political choices.
