Rotimi Amaechi, former Minister of Transportation and a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has urged Nigerians to reject President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election, describing the President’s economic policies, particularly the removal of the petrol subsidy, as reckless.
Amaechi made the remarks on Thursday at an ADC town hall meeting in Edo State, where he criticised the Federal Government’s handling of the economy and accused the administration of worsening the hardship faced by ordinary Nigerians.
The former Rivers State governor suggested that Tinubu’s performance in the 2027 election would serve as a test of Nigerians’ judgement of his administration.
“I read on social media that it is in 2027 that we will know how many madmen we have in Nigeria. It is only a madman that can vote for Tinubu,” Amaechi said.
“If you are not mad, then Tinubu should not win here.”
Amaechi also challenged the President’s characterisation of the removal of the petrol subsidy as a courageous policy decision, arguing that the move had imposed significant economic burdens on Nigerians without adequately protecting them from its consequences.
“There is a difference between courage and recklessness. Tinubu wasn’t courageous; he was reckless,” he said.
He lamented the rising cost of living, insisting that many Nigerians were struggling to afford food and other basic necessities amid persistent economic pressures.
“People are not able to feed. Things are difficult,” Amaechi said.
The ADC chieftain’s criticism centred on the impact of the subsidy removal on household incomes, transportation costs and the wider cost of doing business. He argued that government policies should prioritise measures that stimulate domestic production, expand economic opportunities and ease the pressure on consumers.
Amaechi further faulted Nigeria’s inability to translate its abundant oil and gas resources into broader industrial development and economic prosperity. He maintained that the country should be doing more to harness its natural resources to support local industries, create jobs and reduce dependence on imported goods.
He argued that Nigeria’s economic recovery should be driven by increased domestic production rather than policies that, in his view, leave households and businesses struggling with higher costs.
As an alternative, Amaechi said former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, the ADC’s presidential candidate, would introduce a “production subsidy” if elected president in 2027.
The proposed approach, as described by Amaechi, would focus on supporting local producers and encouraging domestic economic activity, rather than relying solely on consumer-oriented interventions.
His comments add to the growing political contest over the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms ahead of the 2027 general election, with opposition figures making the cost of living, fuel prices and the performance of the productive sector central to their criticism of the Federal Government.
The Tinubu administration has maintained that its reforms are intended to address longstanding structural weaknesses in the economy, although the rising cost of living remains a major concern for many Nigerians.