African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate, Rotimi Amaechi, has pledged to resign from office if Nigeria does not begin to show significant change within one year of an ADC administration taking power in 2027.
Amaechi made the pledge on Wednesday during an interview on AIT’s Democracy Today, where he said the party would focus on security, education and the economy.
He said fighting corruption would be central to the effort, alleging that funds meant for critical sectors were being diverted into private pockets.
“We must deal with three things. We must deal with security; we must deal with education; we must deal with the economy. And to do all that, corruption will have to come down because there’s no money for anybody to steal,” he said.
Fuel subsidy
The former transportation minister also faulted President Bola Tinubu’s removal of the fuel subsidy, arguing that Nigerians had not gained enough from the policy.
“President Tinubu remove subsidy, what are the benefits of subsidy? Subsidy money is in private pockets and they are celebrating,” he said.
Poverty and lavish parties
Amaechi said the gap between widespread poverty and the extravagant parties he sees in parts of the country troubles him. He said he sometimes stays only a few minutes at such events because he wonders where the money comes from.
“I sit down and ask myself, where are these people getting this money from, going by how high poverty is in Nigeria?” he said.
Imports
On the economy, he said Nigeria depends heavily on imported finished goods, claiming the country now imports more than 46 per cent of them.
“Who are those importing? Nigeria is in trouble,” he said.
Tinubu booed at Lagos airport
Referring to reports that Nigerians booed Tinubu on his arrival at the Lagos airport, Amaechi said an ADC government would change that mood.
“I watched people hoot at Tinubu from the Lagos International Airport to his house. If we become President, nobody will do that, they will be clapping for us because we will change Nigeria,” he said.
Response to Wike
The pledge comes shortly after Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, said Tinubu should sack him if he fails to deliver the FCT to the President in the 2027 election.
Amaechi said he was ready to put his own position on the line.
“This time, I will say it. If Nigeria does not begin to change one year after we’ve come to office, come to me, I will resign,” he said.
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