Rotimi Amaechi, the former Minister of Transport, has made a bold statement about Nigerian politicians, alleging that they are primarily in office to “steal, kill, and remain in power.” He shared these views during his speech at the National Conference on Strengthening Democracy in Nigeria, which aimed to explore ways to improve governance and political integrity in the country.
Amaechi criticized the complacency of Nigerians, suggesting that the public’s tendency to forget past grievances enables politicians to get away with corruption and other crimes.
Amaechi further pointed to the lack of accountability in the political system, claiming that the Nigerian electorate often fails to defend their votes or hold politicians accountable for their actions. He directly referenced President Bola Tinubu, asserting that the current political climate would persist without significant change. According to Amaechi, many Nigerians fail to learn from history, leading to repeated mistakes and allowing politicians to continue their illicit activities with impunity.
Reflecting on his own journey in politics, Amaechi spoke candidly about how poverty drove him to become involved in the political system. He mentioned that he has been part of the political landscape since 1987, driven by necessity rather than ideology. Despite his long tenure in politics, Amaechi expressed frustration with the system, claiming that it is fundamentally flawed and that the main objective of politicians is to maintain power at any cost.
Amaechi also highlighted the transactional nature of Nigerian political rallies, sharing an anecdote about an APC event in Lagos where people were paid to attend. He further recounted a moment at an APC demonstration in Abuja where women, who were paid to attend, were seen wearing T-shirts supporting Jonathan for President, revealing the shallow nature of political loyalty in Nigeria. These stories underscored his belief that Nigerian politics is driven by material incentives rather than genuine commitment to democratic principles.
In response to Amaechi’s remarks, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar shared his own experience from a rally in the past, where he observed a similar situation of people being paid to attend political events but leaving early once the payment duration expired.
