Amaechi: I’m angry with Nigerians… there should be protests against politicians over hardship

Rotimi Amaechi, former minister of transportation, says he is disappointed in Nigerians for their seeming laid-back disposition to the economic hardship sweeping through the country. 

The former governor of Rivers bemoaned the rising cost of living in Nigeria, including the hike in the price of fuel, and spiralling food inflation.

President Bola Tinubu’s “reforms” have dealt a huge blow to the purchasing power of millions of Nigerians.

Speaking in an interview published by ABN TV, Amaechi said even he can no longer afford diesel due to the prevailing hardship.

He added that citizens should not have allowed politicians to embark on recent electioneering campaigns in the face of economic pain.

“I’m angry with the citizens. I have said it several times. You can see a group of people stealing your money, impoverishing you, you cannot buy fuel and anything,” he said.

“The people should be angry. There should be protests. Not even protests against anybody but against the politicians that ‘we won’t vote’.

“That is what people should be saying. The rate of hunger now… if people like us cannot afford diesel, you can imagine what is happening to those who do not have children like us.

“Somebody said what this government has achieved is that it has made Nigerians to be strong in the sense that Nigerians now trek.”

Amaechi served as minister of transportation from 2015 to 2022 in the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

He was governor of Rivers state from 2007 to 2015.