According to Rotimi Amaechi, a former minister of transportation, Nigerian politicians are in office to loot, murder, and hold onto their positions of authority.
Amaechi said this during this week’s National Conference on Strengthening Democracy in Nigeria, which covered measures to promote political integrity and good governance in the country.
“All we hear here is typical Nigeria, and you’re clapping,” Amaechi stated during his remarks at the occasion. Politicians get away with anything because of this. You have a short memory, which allows them to get away with murder. The votes cannot be defended by any of you present. Nigerians had been cheering for you after you complained.
Amaechi also directly referred to President Bola Tinubu when he said that the political environment will not change and that many Nigerians have a tendency to ignore the past.
“Many of us were called to step in before the last president was elected,” he remarked. What made them do that? They were prepared to die. No one has authority and will give to you, therefore you’re talking and mistreating everyone. Not even myself. Go get a pastor if that’s what you want as president.
“The politician’s goals in Nigeria are to steal, injure, murder, and hold onto power.” You are wasting your time if you believe Tinubu will deliver it to you. We forget history while we talk.
Amaechi reflected on his own political experience in Nigeria, stating that poverty and necessity had influenced his participation in the political system.
“Unfortunately for me, poverty has forced me to participate in the political system since I graduated from college in 1987, and I continue to do so to this day,” he said.
Amaechi went on to say that his years in politics, especially with the All Progressives Congress, had made him a significant player who cannot be “wished away.”
“You can wish me away, but you can’t wish me away in the APC formation. You cannot wish me away in the same way that the APC won the election.
However, the reality is that some of us would have preferred to die with you if we hadn’t stuck out our necks to say PDP, good luck. They relinquished power when they saw we were prepared to die,” he claimed.
When Amaechi described how someone had informed him at a Lagos event that attendees were paid to attend and that “if tomorrow Tinubu comes with the same transport money, they will also come,” he further clarified the transactional nature of some political gatherings.
Amaechi related a story about an APC demonstration that was held in Eagles Square in Abuja, where “money had been released to bring in certain women.” He said that he had come early to see the event, but that “the women assembled; guess what they were wearing? Jonathan should be the president!
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar responded to Amaechi’s remarks by sharing his own story, stating, “Let me step in here. due to the fact that when Odili was governor, we held a demonstration and the stadium was packed, but everyone departed before the rally could be completed. After we were left alone, I inquired about what had transpired, and he said that they had only paid for two hours.
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