The All Progressives Congress (APC) has sharply criticised former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi for comments they claim are designed to incite public anger against the current administration. The ruling party did not hold back in their response, labelling Amaechi’s recent statements as hypocritical and dangerous.
In an interview, Amaechi remarked that Nigerian youth should be protesting against the rising cost of living. This comment has not sat well with the APC, especially as the country grapples with the effects of policies such as the removal of fuel subsidies and the devaluation of the Naira, which have contributed to economic hardship for many Nigerians.
The APC spokesperson, Festus Morka, released a fiery statement on Friday, in which he expressed outrage over Amaechi’s comments. Morka accused the former governor of showing insensitivity to the nation’s challenges and further claimed that Amaechi’s statements were unpatriotic.
“For almost all his adult life, Amaechi has been a parasitic dependent on state resources, a voracious beneficiary of official patronage, and a leading participant in the generational devastation of our country’s economy,” Morka stated.
Morka’s response painted a picture of Amaechi as a long-time beneficiary of government largesse. He pointed out that the former governor had held numerous high-ranking political positions since 1999 and accused him of hypocrisy for now criticizing the government.
“If those in power ‘steal money,’ as Amaechi mischievously alleged, how come he can’t afford ‘to buy diesel’ barely two years after ‘stealing’ for over 24 years in power as Speaker, Governor, and Minister?” Morka asked.
This sharp rebuke comes at a time when the Tinubu administration is under heavy scrutiny for the country’s economic woes. Since taking office, President Bola Tinubu has been criticized for policies like the fuel subsidy removal, which led to an immediate increase in fuel prices, and the devaluation of the Naira, which has weakened the currency against the dollar and made goods and services more expensive for everyday Nigerians.
Amaechi, who served as Minister of Transportation under former President Muhammadu Buhari, has had a complicated relationship with the APC and President Tinubu since the presidential primaries of 2023. Amaechi had resigned from his position as minister to contest in the APC’s primaries, only to be defeated by Tinubu, who eventually won the presidency.
The tension between Amaechi and Tinubu has only deepened since then. Many political observers believe that the relationship was further strained when Tinubu worked closely with Amaechi’s long-time rival, former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, during the general elections. This alliance between Tinubu and Wike is believed to have contributed to Tinubu’s success in Rivers State, a region where Wike holds considerable influence.
However, a review of the election results by Premium Times showed that Peter Obi of the Labour Party may have actually won the state, contradicting the official results. This added another layer of controversy to an already complicated political landscape in Rivers State.
Nyesom Wike, once Amaechi’s fierce political rival, has become a key player in the Tinubu administration. Wike now serves as a minister in the federal cabinet, a move seen by many as an effort by Tinubu to consolidate support from influential political figures across party lines.
Meanwhile, Rivers State politics has become increasingly complicated. Although Wike is a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), he is believed to have significant control over the party’s local structure. On the other hand, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, also a member of the PDP, has reportedly aligned himself with the Action Peoples Party (APP), further splintering the political scene.
The situation became even more complex when some of Wike’s loyalists were appointed to the APC Caretaker Committee, creating a unique and somewhat confusing blend of political allegiances in Rivers State.
The APC’s statement did not only target Amaechi. The party also took shots at other prominent opposition figures, including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, accusing them of similar tactics aimed at stirring public unrest.
“The only real frustration that Amaechi and his fellow tribesmen of naysayers like Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso must feel is that they are not in government today,” Morka said in his statement. He claimed that the people of Nigeria had made their choice in the last election, and the current administration would not be swayed by attempts to provoke violence or undermine its legitimacy.
The APC spokesperson emphasized that the hardships faced by Nigerians as a result of the government’s economic policies are only temporary. He assured the public that the reforms being implemented by the Tinubu administration would lead to long-term benefits.
“Nigerians are highly perceptive, discerning, and mindful that the economic discomforts associated with the administration’s inevitable reforms are temporary and will pale into insignificance compared to the enduring transformative dividends that are already beginning to manifest,” Morka declared.
