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10 years in office, Buhari wouldn’t have borrowed as much as Tinubu -Amaechi *President, the worst in Nigeria’s history
Rotimi Amaechi, former Minister of Transportation, on Thursday night, passed damning verdict on President Bola Tinubu, saying he now holds the trophy as the worst in the history of Nigeria – worse than even his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari.
A guest of Politics Today, a public affairs programme on Channels Television, Amaechi, also a former Governor of Rivers State, who was two-times director of campaigns for the Buhari presidential bids in 2015 and 1019, said the fact that Nigerians were now asking for Buhari back in government, was proof of how badly Tinubu had performed on his job for the past two years.
Tinubu, celebrated two years anniversary on May 29, 2025 with claims of doing much to return the country’s economy to the path of prosperity, apart from making great inroads into creating massive infrastructure in the country.
Amaechi, however, pooh-poohed the claim, saying there was no basis for comparison of Tinubu’s failed government to any other in the country, citing the number of people who had died so far as a result of insecurity and the effects of bad economy.
“Look! We’re talking about hunger. We’re talking about Nigerians who are dying of hunger. More than 200,000 people were killed. We’re talking about the killings in Benue, the killings even in Port Harcourt, the killings in Sokoto, the killings in Borno. We’re talking about you can’t drive at night. You’re scared.
I got somebody who came to visit me the other day, they came, pointed guns at him, took his wristwatch and his money – everything – at Wuse. He’s a medical doctor. He came visiting. I offered him accommodation and he said I already have accommodation and I said, okay, let’s see tomorrow.
Comparing Buhari and Tinubu, both of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Amaechi, also a founding member of the party, who was defeated by Tinubu for its presidential ticket in 2022, said: “I hope you know they’re now asking for Buhari to come back. Nigerians are asking for Buhari to come back, because by that time a bag of rice is at what cost? What’s a bag of rice now?
“How much was dollar then. Maximum by the time we left government, it was close to N700. Now you’re talking about N1,600. Let’s agree that Buhari killed the Nigerian economy, this one is burying it. The current government has completely buried the economy.
“Any economic policy that does not put money in the pockets of individual Nigerians is not an economic policy. There’s a question, I’ve been asking, suddenly I don’t know whether it’s the IMF or the World Bank that has joined me in asking that question – you’re making savings from removing subsidy and from floating the Naira, please where is the money?
“You have seen me as not criticizing those economic policies, all I’m saying is where is the money? The question is why did Nigerians vote for a man who is today is President. You didn’t ask the hard questions. You didn’t say, what has he done in the past. Where is his factory? Where is his office?
“Do you know how many Nigerians have died, do you know how many Nigerians that have committed suicide? Is your life better now than when Buhari was in government? The current government is worse than what President Buhari had done.
“The money they have borrowed, if Buhari had lasted for 10 years, he couldn’t have borrowed that kind of money. You see, when a colleague of mine came to the cabinet and said, I want to borrow money, I want to do xyz, Buhari overruled that memo. Buhari stopped that memo and said only Ministry of Transport and some other Ministries that have essential projects that would be allowed to borrow money. But, this one, will not fly.
“Not everything was achieved. Buhari will tell you that he did not achieve all that he planned for. But then, he was better than the current government by all standards. In terms of security, Buhari focused on it. In transportation, I’m open to a new challenge. Again, the independence of INEC was higher in Buhari’s government than now.
“Now, they can’t even register a party because government officials are telling them not to. Those who applied to INEC for registration — their rents have expired. If Tinubu was doing well, I’d be the first to sing his praises. I feel ashamed for a President commissioning 16 kilometres of road, that’s what a local government chairman should be doing.”
Accusing Tinubu of burying the Nigerian economy totally, the former Minister, who also questioned the whereabout of the money saved from removal of fuel subsidy has gone, stressed: “The current government has completely buried the economy. Any economy that does not put money in the pockets of individuals in Nigeria is not an economic policy. You’re making savings from removing subsidy, from floating the naira — where is the money? Where is it going?
“We have a situation where only members of this government are in the rich class. The middle class has vanished, and the poor are increasing. At this rate, a time will come when we won’t even see the poor anymore — they’ll have all died.”
Exonerating himself from corruption throughout his public lice, he said that his record in office remained untainted, as he never stole from the public purse, dismissing claims that his current anti-Tinubu stance was motivated by not being integrated into the government.
His words: “I never stole anything in politics. I don’t drive a Rolls-Royce. I’m not in opposition because Tinubu didn’t give me an appointment. I’m not interested in any appointment. If there’s anyone who says Amaechi deceived them, let them come forward. If there was corruption in my tenure, let them come forward. I’m waiting.”
Amaechi, while acknowledging that he would run for the presidency again in 2027, but maintained that such ambition was not currently on the cards, because politicians like him who were part of the coalition to oust Tinubu from the APC were asked to bury it for now, he said however that he possessed all the credentials to lead the country.
Hear him: “Of course, can I lead Nigeria? Yes. I have led as a Speaker, and I was one of the best Speakers in this country. Nigerians would not have been this hungry if I had become President. There is absolutely no way we would have this level of insecurity under me.
“In the next three weeks, I’ll publish my health details, age, birth certificate, and school certificate. I’ll reassure Nigerians that I won’t be going to hospitals if I am made president.”
On the adoption of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), he said: “Once the people want their power, they can restore it. That’s what the ADC is doing — trying to end political apathy and return power to the people.”
“He is running in contempt of the court. Justice Lifu should be arrested because he is acting in contempt of the court which is a criminal act,” were the exact words with which the African Democratic Congress (ADC), demonstrated its angst over the court ruling on Monday, ordering its de-registration as a political party in Nigeria.
A furious Bolaji Abdullahi, spokesman of the party, told his host while appearing as a guest on Monday’s edition of Politics Today, a public affairs programme on Channels Television that the judge of the Abuja Federal High Court who gave the order was actually playing with fire because of the consequences.
Directly accusing him of playing the script of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to ensure that President Bola Tinubu emerged the sole candidate for the 2027 presidential election, the party spokesman, was emphatic that the plan would not work, as head or tail, ADC must be on the ballot in all the elections.
Hear him: “There is a Court of Appeal order saying don’t hear this case until October 27. So, on what basis? You can’t place something on nothing. The Court of Appeal said don’t act on this until I hear it on October 27. So, on what basis did he deliver the judgement
“So, for us in the African Democratic Congress, what we’re convinced and they know is what they have done has no leg to stand on legally. What they want to do is to create doubts in the minds of the people that this ADC has too many legal cases, can we actually run on this? And to distract us. But we’re not distracted.
“We’re very clear. It was in spite of all they have done since ADC came on board that we ran one of the best and one of the most comprehensive direct primaries in the history of democracy in Nigeria. So, we are strong enough to withstand this. And that’s why I’m saying that we are going to contest in 2027. We’re ADC. We don’t buckle before dictatorship.”
Stressing on the implication of the judgement, which also affected Accord Party (AP), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) for allegedly failing to meet constitutional and electoral performance requirements, following a suit by the National Forum of Former Legislators, he said it portended grave danger.
He added: “We are not surprised. We know that the Nigerian people believe that there is a problem with the judiciary, but what we did not expect is the level of judicial rascality that was demonstrated today.
“What we are saying is that we reject it in its totality, and we are saying that the people behind this are playing with fire. Hundreds, if not thousands, have obtained nomination forms and contested elections and emerged as candidates on the platform of the ADC.”
Peter Obi, candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), in the 2027 presidential election, is peeved at the decision of the Federal High Court, Abuja, ordering the de-registration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), saying the move is a heavy blow and dangerous to Nigeria’s democracy.
Justice Peter Lifu, who made the order, based on an action brought by National Forum of Former Legislators, agreed that the parties, including Accord Party (AP), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), failed to meet the requirement for continued existence in Nigeria.
But Obi, who left the ADC coalition to join the NDC, incidentally, based on what he explained resulted from the multiple court cases hanging on its neck, expressed his disenchantment, in a statement by the Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR), on Monday.
Signed by Ibrahim Umar, its spokesman, the group quoted the former Governor of Anambra State as decrying the growing damage to the nation’s sacred institutions on the altar of politics.
Stressing that the rise of nations depended on stronger institutions devoid of political influences, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, wrote on his X platform: “When the controversy surrounding the removal of the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, unfolded, I expressed a concern to a friend: that the greatest damage might not be immediate, but the message it sends about the sanctity and independence of our institutions to the world.
“Strong economies are built on trust. Investors can manage security risks, policy risks, and even market risks. What they fear most is uncertainty in the rule of law and a judiciary that is perceived to be vulnerable to political pressure.
“Today, many Nigerians have lost confidence in systems that should protect them. Businesses increasingly request that their contracts be governed by foreign jurisdictions because they have greater confidence in those institutions than in our own. That should concern every patriot.
“We must never sacrifice our sacred institutions on the altar of politics. Nations rise when institutions are stronger than individuals. The Federal High Court judgment ordering the deregistration of the ADC and other political parties is just one of those activities that further reduces the common man’s trust in our legal systems. It should be reversed.
“I pledge that we will restore the dignity, independence, and integrity of the judiciary. The common man must have a voice. The business community must be protected from legal uncertainty and intimidation. Justice must be impartial, accessible, and respected by all. To our judges, legal luminaries, senior advocates, and lawyers: this is your moment. Rise, defend the rule of law, take back your country! A new Nigeria is POssible.”
Not even Lamine Yamal’s second half introduction could help Spain break through the defence of debutants, Cape Verde, in their first ever meeting, as the ongoing World Cup event produced another one of the stunning results on Monday.
Yamal, the Barcelona superstar just recovering from a near two-month hamstring injury, was brought into the game in the second half to zest up the one-time world champion, but failed to break down the Cape Verde’s dogged defence.
Spain’s in the game played in Atlanta, one of the cities hosting the three-nation Mundial, displayed the same dismal outing, which saw them offering far less than the quality, which saw them lifting the trophy for the first time in 2010.
The European champions, which have not won a knockout game ever since, failed to dominate the African side, replicating their less than impressing outings and their eventual exit in 2018 and 2022 editions, even with the claims of coach Luis de la Fuente that the squad was the best in the competition, Spain were considered among the pre-tournament.
Neither Yamal nor Nico Williams, who also was hit by an injury-disrupted season at Athletic Bilbao and was not introduced until the 87th minute, were able to rise to the occasion against the 500,000 people African side, ranked 67 in the world, which is making their debut on the global stage.
In stark contrast to the searing temperatures faced by some other sides, Atlanta’s state-of-the-art air conditioned stadium meant there was no excuses for the slow tempo of Spain’s build-up.
Indeed the mid-half hydration break was met by boos with fans frustrated at the break in play despite the cool conditions.
The only serious move from the European champions only came at the sixth minute to half-time, when Marc Cucurella, fresh for sealing his move from Chelsea to Real Madrid, sent over a teasing cross that Ferran Torres turned onto the crossbar and Cabo Verde goalkeeper Vozinha got back on his feet to turn Mikel Oyarzabal’s looping header over the bar.
Even after the break, the Blue Sharks, were also able to hold back from the onslaught as they did in the first half, where Vozinho, managed to make another superlative save against Aymeric Laporte’s header just before half-time.
Despite the excitement from the crowd after he was introduced, Yamal, billed as one of the stars of the tournament, failed to create any magic with his first touch being the set-up of a decent opening for fellow substitute Mikel Merino which was too close to Vozinha.
In fact, Cabo Verde billed to take on Uruguay in Miami, nearly snatched a famous victory in the final minute of the 90 when Dani Borges planted a header too close to Unai Simon, who saved the occasion, to prevent the former world champions, billed to face Saudi Arabia in Atlanta on Sunday from humiliation.
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