- Safiu Kehinde
Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has warned of more economic hardship if President Bola Tinubu returns for second term at the 2027 Presidential election.
Amaechi gave the warning while addressing the African Democratic Congress (ADC) supporters at the Port Harcourt International airport on Wednesday.
The former Rivers State Governor had arrived at the state’s capital for the official launching of the new coalition party which he spearheaded alongside former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, ex-Kaduna state governor, Nasir El-Rufai, and other opposition leaders.
In his address, Amaechi called for those who are ready to work with him and confront Tinubu at the 2027 Presidential election as he held that Nigerians are already complaining of the President’s first tenure.
“Currently, Nigerians are complaining in President Tinubu’s first tenure. Imagine what the second will be like, then you’ll be dead and buried. People are dying not of sickness but of starvation. If you’re not ready to confront them, I’m looking for those who will work with me to confront them.” Amaechi said.
While highlighting the mobilisation plan of the coalition party, the former Rivers governor charged the supporters to desist from discouraging voters with claims that the election results have already been written.
“We are told by the coalition that there will be conferences that will elect new officers in due course, when the national party will decide when that will take place.
“Most importantly is to have your eyes on 2027. To have your eyes on 2027, please go home and start legislation. We will work with the executive. We will form a committee.
“Local government by local government that will go from ward to ward to ascertain the number of people we have.
“They make noise after rising results. We will stop them from writing with us. Please, go home now and start organising because these are the people that come and vote.
“Let me tell you one thing that you should not do; when you say they have already written the results, you discourage voters from coming out to vote for the removal of the current government.” He added.
Some of the party members who were at the airport to welcome the ADC coalition party reportedly expressed optimistic that Amaechi and Atiku will pair for the 2027 presidential ticket.
Tele Bathram, a former governorship aspirant in the 2023 general elections said he is optimistic of the party’s victory if Amaechi and Atiku fly the party’s flag.
Bathram said that the party had put necessary measures in place to take over the 23 local area councils and claim total victory at the grassroots.
He described ADC as a strong coalition of politicians from the opposition parties and dissatisfied members of the ruling party.
He said that the aim of the coalition was to reposition the country’s political landscape.
Christian Akujiobi, an ADC supporter, said that since the emergence of the present administration, citizens, especially in Rivers, have suffered so much deprivation.
Akujiobi said that ADC stands as the only option with which the state could reclaim its glory and urged residents to rally support for the party.
However, Williams Ndamiete, a Port Harcourt resident said that the journey of taking over Rivers by the ADC had been marred by distrust.
“Amaechi has lost support here in Rivers; he can no longer be taken seriously anymore; he abandoned his supporters while chasing national relevance.
“He may see a rented crowd welcoming him today but not committed followers because those ones have moved on,” he said.