Former Rivers State governor and ex-minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has criticized the present state of politics in Nigeria, saying the nation now lacks the sort of daring opposition that after challenged these in energy.
Talking in Abuja on Tuesday through the launch of former Jigawa State governor Sule Lamido’s autobiography “Being True To Myself”, Amaechi mirrored on what he referred to as a misplaced period of political engagement.
“If the sort of politics we practiced again then was nonetheless alive, the scenario within the nation as we speak would have been completely different,” Amaechi stated. “I requested Lamido this morning, would what’s taking place now in Nigerian politics have occurred in our time? He stated no — and the reply is not any.”
Amaechi, who was chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Discussion board (NGF) throughout Lamido’s tenure, stated governors on the time brazenly challenged the federal authorities — together with the presidency.
“We confronted the federal government. We confronted the president. That’s how radical we had been. That was the spirit of our governors’ discussion board — decided and unafraid to demand change,” he stated.
Amaechi additionally recounted disagreements with Lamido, together with throughout his emergence as NGF chairman. Their political paths cut up throughout opposition to former President Goodluck Jonathan.
“I believed Lamido was as radical as I used to be, so I leaned on him throughout some powerful selections,” Amaechi stated. “However once we determined to oppose Jonathan and kind a united entrance, he selected a special path. He left to kind the SDP, whereas the remainder of us caught with APC. That was the place we parted methods.”
Regardless of their variations, Amaechi stated he would privately help the autobiography undertaking as “one radical to a different.
His remarks observe earlier criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State, which Amaechi described as an try and suppress opposition forward of the 2027 elections.
He has additionally voiced frustration over Nigerians’ muted response to financial challenges.
“There needs to be protests — not even in opposition to any particular individual — however to inform politicians, ‘we’re drained, we received’t vote for you anymore,’” he stated earlier this yr.
In accordance with Amaechi, Nigeria’s democracy wants leaders keen to talk out and take dangers — as he and others as soon as did.
The publish Nigeria’s Politics Now Lacks Radical Opposition – Amaechi appeared first on Kano Instances.
