Former Minister of Transportation and African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate, Rotimi Amaechi, has urged Nigerians to reject President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election, declaring that anyone who votes for the president would be acting irrationally.
Amaechi made the remarks on Thursday during a town hall meeting in Edo State, where he called on residents to support the ADC and oppose Tinubu’s re-election bid.
The former Rivers State governor, who criticised the president’s administration, used strong language to challenge supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the next presidential election.
“They are going about saying, ‘Vote Tinubu! Vote Tinubu!’ Only thieves can vote for Tinubu,” Amaechi said.
He added that the 2027 election would reveal the number of Nigerians willing to support the president, insisting that Edo State should not vote for Tinubu if its residents wanted a change in government.
Amaechi also accused the Tinubu administration of prioritising projects allegedly driven by financial interests over initiatives that would directly address the country’s economic needs.
He particularly questioned the plan to develop another seaport in Ogun State, asking whether the volume of goods produced in the state justified the proposed investment in additional port infrastructure.
According to him, the project raised questions about the government’s priorities and whether the decision was motivated by the potential financial benefits associated with its construction.
“So, Tinubu just hates you. No, I’m not joking. If Tinubu does not hate you, why is he building another seaport? In Ogun, what are the goods we are producing?” he asked.
The ADC chieftain argued that Nigerians should examine the economic justification for major infrastructure projects rather than accept government decisions without scrutiny.
He also urged opposition supporters living outside the country or staying away from the electoral process to return home and participate in efforts to change the government through the ballot.
“If you want Tinubu to go, please go home. Go home. Go home,” he said.
On fuel pricing, Amaechi advocated a production-based subsidy model that would link government policy to crude oil supplied to domestic refineries.
He argued that the proposed arrangement would reduce petrol prices without requiring direct government expenditure on conventional fuel subsidies.
Under his proposal, crude oil would be sold to domestic refiners at a lower price than the prevailing international market rate, with the difference forming the basis of support for locally refined petroleum products.
Amaechi illustrated the proposal with an example in which crude oil sold internationally for N15,000 would be supplied to the Dangote Refinery at N10,000, leaving a N5,000 difference.
He said the arrangement would involve discussions between the government and domestic refiners, including modular refinery operators, to ensure that the benefit translated into lower fuel prices.
According to him, restricting the arrangement to refineries operating in Nigeria would encourage local refining and ensure that the benefits were tied to domestic production.
Amaechi maintained that a reduction in petrol prices would also ease transportation costs and trigger a decline in the prices of goods and services across the country.
