Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has taken a swipe at Nigerians, accusing them of passivity in the face of ongoing socio-economic hardship allegedly imposed by the ruling elite.
Speaking at a public event in Abuja on Thursday, July 3, Amaechi lamented the widespread complacency among citizens, suggesting that the Nigerian populace has the numerical strength to challenge the elite but lacks the will to act.
“The elites looting the country are not more than 100,000, yet over 200 million Nigerians sit idly by,” he said. “You complain in your homes, but the elites already know you’re unhappy — and they also know you’ve rendered yourselves powerless. Nigeria is the most docile society I’ve ever seen. Any revolution without blood is a failure. The only way to stop Tinubu is to run an election of Nigerians versus the bandits.”
His remarks drew swift backlash, including from activist Aisha Yesufu, who accused Amaechi of hypocrisy. In what seemed like a direct response on social media, Yesufu challenged politicians like Amaechi to take the lead if they genuinely seek change.
“I find it hypocritical when politicians, safe in their lavish homes, call citizens docile for not protesting,” she wrote. “What’s stopping you from leading the protest? You want citizens to rise, only for you to seize power and unleash the police on them when they protest during your administration?”
She added pointedly, “Stop the ‘cho cho cho’ and lead the protest, joor!”
