Amaechi: I Told Tinubu in Yola I Wouldn’t Support Him
Opposition Titans Unite to Challenge APC in 2027, Slam Tinubu’s Leadership
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, along with ex-governors Rotimi Amaechi and Nasir El-Rufai, has reaffirmed a united front aimed at unseating the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.
The political heavyweights made this known during a public lecture held in Abuja on Saturday, themed “Weaponisation of Poverty as a Means of Underdevelopment: A Case Study of Nigeria.” The event doubled as a commemoration of Amaechi’s 60th birthday.
Atiku: Tinubu’s Government Is Fueling Poverty
Atiku lamented the worsening socio-economic conditions in Northern Nigeria, using Kano as an example of rapid decline.
Recalling his earlier visits, he described the sight of people sleeping under bridges and on the streets as a symptom of deepening poverty and government failure.
He accused the Tinubu administration of “state-sponsored weaponisation of poverty,” claiming that government agencies initially addressing such social issues had been instructed to halt operations.
According to Atiku, this underscores why a strong opposition alliance is needed to end the suffering.
“This government is weaponising poverty. That’s why we’ve come together – to stop them from continuing this,” he declared.
Amaechi: I Refused to Support Tinubu Over Lack of Capacity
In a fiery speech, Amaechi revealed that he refused to back President Tinubu’s candidacy in 2023 because he doubted Tinubu’s leadership capacity.
“I told him in Yola, ‘I will not support you.’ I did not vote for him. It was a question of capacity,” Amaechi said.
He criticized the electorate for allowing ethnicity and religion to shape voting behavior, saying these factors are used to manipulate vulnerable citizens.
Amaechi urged Nigerians to unite beyond party lines and demand genuine leadership.
“We don’t care about you. When we leave here, we’ll start plotting how to seize power,” he said, bluntly pointing out that Nigerian leaders have historically put personal ambition over public good.
Poverty, Corruption, and a Green Passport Shame
Amaechi decried the collapse of basic services and claimed that the financial gains from fuel subsidy removal have been siphoned off by corrupt officials.
“They’re stealing what should be used to build schools and hospitals,” he said.
He also shared a personal experience of being detained at a German airport for 30 minutes due to holding a Nigerian passport—calling it a symbol of the country’s degraded global reputation.
El-Rufai and Onaiyekan: Nigeria Must Choose Better Leaders
El-Rufai endorsed the opposition alliance, branding Amaechi a long-time “co-conspirator” in political reform efforts.
He criticized Nigerians for electing “the worst among us,” and urged the nation to learn from its mistakes.
Delivering a moral dimension to the discussion, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, the Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, implored politicians to see public service as a divine calling, not an avenue for personal gain.
“Politics is not for amassing wealth but for glorifying God through service to humanity,” he said.
A Broad Opposition Coalition in the Making
The event was attended by a broad spectrum of political figures, cutting across party lines and ideologies, including:
- Former PDP Chairman Uche Secondus
- Ex-Army Chief Gen. Tukur Buratai
- Former APC Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun
- Former Governors Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), and Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa)
- Senators Orji Kalu and Tunde Ogbeha
- Former Sports Minister Bolaji Abdullahi
Together, they signaled a growing coalition of opposition voices, unified by a common goal: to halt what they describe as APC’s misrule and to offer Nigerians a credible alternative in 2027.
Amaechi: I Told Tinubu in Yola I Wouldn’t Support Him