Be ready to die for power, Tinubu won’t hand it to you – Amaechi to Nigerians
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Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has made a bold statement about Nigerian politics, telling Nigerians that power will never be freely given to them and that they must be prepared to fight for it.
Speaking at a national conference on strengthening democracy in Abuja, organized by the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy, and Development, Amaechi warned that Nigerian politicians often go to extreme lengths to win elections. He urged Nigerians to be vigilant and to protect their votes if they want credible leadership in the country.
“None of you here seated can defend the votes,” Amaechi said. “The only way Ibrahim Shekarau became governor was because people lined up. It happened in Ghana before the election of the last president. Two days, a lot of us were called to intervene. But why did they do that? The people were ready to die.”
He added, “You are talking and abusing everybody. Nobody has power and will give it to you—not even me. If you want a pastor as president, go and get one. The politician is there in Nigeria to steal, maim, and kill to remain in power. If you think Tinubu will give it to you, you are wasting your time.”
Amaechi also shared his experience from the 2015 presidential election, when the newly formed APC defeated the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He attributed the success to the determination of the party’s leaders, stressing that former President Goodluck Jonathan conceded defeat only when he realized the APC was fully prepared to defend its mandate. He encouraged Nigerians to adopt similar resolve in future elections.
This comes after Amaechi had expressed disappointment in Nigerians’ passiveness in the face of economic struggles, a sentiment he shared in October 2024.
In response, the ruling APC hit back at Amaechi, accusing him of being one of those who contributed to Nigeria’s problems. Amaechi had been one of the 14 aspirants for the APC presidential ticket in the 2023 election, securing second place with 316 votes, behind eventual winner, President Bola Tinubu, who received 1,271 votes.