Only a madman will vote for Tinubu in 2027, says Amaechi

Rotimi Amaechi, vice-presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has described President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies as “reckless”, saying only a madman would re-elect him in the 2027 elections.

Amaechi, who spoke on Thursday during the ADC town hall meeting in Edo, urged Nigerians to reject Tinubu at the polls, saying his administration’s policies had inflicted hardship on citizens.

“I read on social media that it is in 2027 that we will know how many madmen we have in Nigeria. It is only a madman that can vote for Tinubu,” Amaechi said.

“If you are not mad, then Tinubu should not win here.”

The former minister of transportation accused the president’s supporters of being motivated by self-interest.

Amaechi faulted the administration’s decision to remove the petrol subsidy, rejecting Tinubu’s description of the policy as an act of courage.

The politician said Tinubu had acknowledged being advised against removing the subsidy but proceeded with the policy.

“There is a difference between courage and recklessness. Tinubu wasn’t courageous; he was reckless,” Amaechi said.

The former minister lamented the worsening cost-of-living crisis, noting that many Nigerians could no longer afford basic necessities.

“People are not able to feed. Things are difficult,” he said, blaming economic policies for the hardship confronting households.

Amaechi criticised the state of Nigeria’s energy sector, noting that the country had failed to adequately harness its abundant natural resources to drive industrial production and economic growth.

He said Nigeria is richly endowed with crude oil and natural gas, particularly in the south-south region, but had failed to translate those resources into sustainable prosperity for its citizens.

The former minister said Nigeria’s economic revival requires policies that stimulate domestic production rather than measures that increase the burden on consumers and businesses.

Amaechi said Atiku Abubakar, ADC presidential candidate, would restore “production subsidy” to strengthen local production and ease economic pressure on Nigerians if elected president.