The Vice-Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rotimi Amaechi, has challenged President Bola Tinubu’s administration over the rising cost of living, saying the removal of fuel subsidy without adequate measures to cushion its effects has made life more difficult for Nigerians.

Amaechi, a former governor of Rivers State, made the remarks on Friday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he offered to withdraw as Atiku Abubakar’s running mate and campaign for Tinubu if petrol sells for ₦600 per litre by Saturday.

“Don’t bother about my views, I will go tomorrow morning to a petrol station myself so that you can see. If fuel has come down to 600 I will campaign for President Tinubu. If fuel comes down tomorrow to 600 I will campaign for President Tinubu.

“Tomorrow, if you are doubtful come with your camera tomorrow in the morning and I will go to a filling station and I will buy fuel, if it comes down to this thing, I Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi will withdraw as the vice presidential candidate of Atiku and campaign for President Tinubu if it has come down,” Amaechi said.

He also framed the 2027 presidential election as a choice between life and death, arguing that Nigerians have only one choice to make if they want to remain alive. According to him, “Tinubu represents the choice of death.”

‘Tinubu’s Govt More Corrupt Than Buhari’s’

Amaechi also accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of being more corrupt than that of his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, arguing that the scale of corruption under the current government is more glaring.

According to the former Rivers State governor, comparing the two administrations would give the impression that there was little or no corruption under Buhari.

“If you compare the two you will think there was no corruption under Buhari’s government,” he said.

Amaechi argued that the difference between the two administrations was that corruption under Buhari was less glaring, while those under Tinubu were not making efforts to conceal it.

“(Corruption under Buhari) not as bad as this (under Tinubu). You know the difference? The difference is that when you are corrupt you hide it, these people are not hiding it, it’s so glaring.”

Asked whether he was part of the corruption he alleged took place under Buhari, having served in the former president’s administration as Minister of Transportation, Amaechi denied being corrupt.

“I have said it several times. The other time Maupe was interviewing me and she asked, ‘are you corrupt?’ and I said no and I am waiting for the person that will prove that I am corrupt. I will say it again and again, I will not near corruption, I will not get close to corruption.”

‘They Haven’t Completed Any Project’

Amaechi also faulted Tinubu’s administration over its record on infrastructure, arguing that there was no basis for comparing its performance with Buhari’s government in terms of project delivery.

He challenged the current administration to name a project it had completed since assuming office, citing the proposed Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and its reported cost as an example.

“The only thing you can judge us and look at it is about governance, but in terms of being able to do projects here and there, let this government show one thing they have done, including the so-called Coastal Road that I hear is N33 trillion, about $16 billion.

“By this time in the first tenure of Buhari’s government we have completed Abuja-Kaduna rail. Tell them to show one rail they have completed, they should name one project they have completed, just one, including Television House like Channels.”