By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu
Amid rising economic hardship and worsening insecurity, former Minister of Transportation and All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart, Rt Hon Rotimi Amaechi, has declared his willingness to support or form a coalition to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
In an interview with the BBC, the former Rivers State governor voiced deep concerns about the state of the nation, saying Nigeria is at a breaking point and can no longer afford to remain under what he described as a failing leadership.
“People are dying. People are starving. I myself am feeling the effects of hunger,” Amaechi stated bluntly. “You can’t keep quiet when the government you belong to is going the wrong way.”
Despite being a founding member of the ruling APC and a former presidential aspirant under the party, Amaechi stressed that party loyalty should not equate to blind support. “If the government is failing the country, you don’t just go along because you’re in the same party. You know that’s not right.”
His comments follow recent endorsements of President Tinubu as the APC’s sole candidate for 2027 by party leadership. But Amaechi, without directly rejecting the endorsement, hinted at growing unease within the ranks of the party.
“I’m having conversations with others who are also concerned about the direction of this country. If we come together and win, there’s no doubt Nigeria will see real change.”
The former chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum recounted a personal encounter that underscored the scale of the country’s crisis. “I saw a corpse by the roadside, and nobody was doing anything. That’s how bad things have become. That’s food insecurity staring us in the face.”
While Amaechi stopped short of declaring a fresh presidential ambition, he admitted that the option remains on the table. “Certainly, I believe I can make a meaningful contribution. But whether I run or not, time will tell.”
His comments come at a time when other major political figures including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the PDP and Labour Party’s Peter Obi are reportedly exploring the possibility of a united opposition alliance for 2027. Former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai has also hinted at coalition talks.
Still, Amaechi’s public stance is seen as a rare move, especially coming from within the APC, which has been witnessing a steady influx of opposition figures into its fold—raising fears of a slide toward one-party dominance.
He warned that Nigeria has become “stagnant,” plagued by economic paralysis and persistent insecurity. “The farmer-herder crisis is still here. Kidnappings continue. And Boko Haram isn’t about religion—it’s about hunger. Many of those people are just trying to survive.”
Amaechi also bemoaned the growing number of out-of-school children in the country. “When I was NGF Chairman, we had about 10 million. Now, it’s more. That tells you something is wrong.”
Despite suggestions that his influence has diminished since leaving the federal cabinet, Amaechi dismissed such claims with confidence. “Go to Port Harcourt and ask around—from the airport, you’ll see for yourself.”
As political tensions begin to simmer ahead of 2027, Amaechi’s position may signal a deeper ideological rift within the APC—and a possible realignment of forces across party lines.
His call for truth-telling and coalition-building resonates with growing public dissatisfaction, as Nigerians continue to grapple with high inflation, food shortages, and insecurity. Whether this discontent translates into political change at the ballot box remains to be seen.