The politician and human rights advocate Omoyele Sowore has criticized Rotimi Amaechi, the former minister of transportation, for his recent assertion that, if elected president, he could eradicate corruption in Nigeria in three months.
Amaechi, a former governor of Rivers State and former speaker of the House of Assembly, said this while speaking on X Space. He maintained that eradicating corruption quickly would only require his political will and leadership style.
However, Sowore rejected the remark as being both impractical and hypocritical, citing Amaechi’s lengthy political experience as proof that his pledge was untrustworthy. Amaechi was accused of political trickery by Sowore in a video that was uploaded to SaharaReporters, saying:
A month from now, Amaechi promised to eradicate corruption. For a total of 16 years, Amaechi has served as Speaker for 8 years and Governor for 8 years. He spent eight years as Minister, for a total of twenty-four years. What do you think if you take 24 out of 60? An idiot at forty is an idiot forever.
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Amaechi had plenty of opportunity to fight corruption after decades in positions of considerable responsibility, but he fell short, according to Sowore. The last-minute campaign promises, he said, were an insult to Nigerian intelligence.
The former presidential contender also emphasized the importance of watchfulness and critical thinking, warning young Nigerians not to believe political rhetoric at face value. Nigeria’s political system, he underlined, had continuously re-elected politicians who contributed to the issue rather than solving it.
All of them are lying to you. Yes, we will participate and we have options, but we are not constrained by any one of them because we are short on time,” Sowore stated.
He also bemoaned the little window of time that gives young people the chance to shape the destiny of the nation and urged them to take advantage of it. According to Sowore, the tough socioeconomic conditions in Nigeria are clearly having an adverse effect on young people, causing them to age too quickly.
There is not much time left. Even though you are young now, you will not always be young. Some Nigerian young people tell me they are 24 when I encounter them, and I question whether we are the same age. I am 54. “The system has caused them to no longer appear their age,” he continued.
Due to Sowore’s comments, there is now a lot of internet discussion, with many Nigerians doubting the legitimacy of political pledges made by long-serving public officials.
