Former Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi Declares Nigeria “Completely Destroyed,” Quits APC, Accuses INEC of Election Collusion
Former Minister of Transportation and ex-Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, made scathing remarks on Wednesday, declaring that Nigeria is “completely destroyed” and urgently in need of a total transformation. He accused both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of colluding to hijack the country’s upcoming elections.
Speaking during the unveiling of the interim executive of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Abuja, Amaechi voiced frustration over the worsening economic situation in Nigeria. He highlighted that inflation is at an all-time high and ordinary citizens are struggling to afford food due to widespread poverty.
“Nigeria is completely destroyed. People can’t eat. People can’t buy food. There’s no money to buy food. Everything is gone. Inflation is at its peak,” Amaechi said.
He alleged that the federal government is not focused on solving the country’s problems but is instead preoccupied with manipulating the electoral process. According to him, INEC is complicit in this agenda.
“The federal government is busy going around trying to hijack the election. INEC is helping them to hijack the election,” he stated.
Amaechi, who served as Minister under both the Buhari and Tinubu administrations, revealed that he officially resigned from the APC on Tuesday night. He expressed surprise that the party hadn’t expelled him earlier, noting that he had already distanced himself and warned against being invited to party meetings.
“I left APC last night. I never attended one meeting. The last time they invited me, I warned them. I said, if you invite me to any meeting anymore… In fact, I was surprised that I wasn’t even expelled,” Amaechi noted.
He was sharply critical of the party’s direction and what he perceives as widespread corruption among its members:
“You can’t be in a club where majority of people are stealing and you don’t say anything.”
When questioned on why he wasn’t supporting the current APC-led administration under President Bola Tinubu, Amaechi didn’t mince words:
“I have never believed that Tinubu is material to govern the country. I have never,” he declared.
He claimed the situation has become so dire under Tinubu that some Nigerians now yearn for the return of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
“People are asking for Buhari because things were better during Buhari’s administration. Dollar was ₦460 or five hundred and something, now it’s ₦1,580. That’s more than one hundred percent [increase],” Amaechi lamented.
He dismissed any justification that the high exchange rate may be a deliberate economic policy, saying:
“Whether it’s a deliberate government policy or not, any government that does not take into consideration the people you are governing is not a policy. President Tinubu said he is not here to make Nigerians happy.”
Asked whether his actions stem from political ambition, Amaechi responded plainly:
“I have the right to be ambitious. I am not over ambitious.”
Instead of merely supporting another party, Amaechi emphasized the need for a broad-based national movement:
“It’s not about changing the government. It’s about changing Nigeria. What must happen here is that we must start not just a party, but a movement. It must be a movement that brings in Nigerians to on their own take over government not us.”
Amaechi’s public resignation and blistering criticism mark a significant rupture from the APC leadership, signaling a potential shift in Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of the 2025 general elections.
