VIDEO: Buhari Was Overwhelmed, Tinubu Not Successful – Amaechi Reveals

Former Minister of Transportation and ex-Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, has claimed that former President Muhammadu Buhari admitted being overwhelmed by the challenges of governing Nigeria under a democratic system.

Naija News reports that Amaechi made the disclosure during an interview with filmmaker Chude Jideonwo, where he reflected on his years in government and assessed the performance of past and present administrations.

According to Amaechi, he approached Buhari during their time in office after becoming concerned that the administration was not meeting the expectations of Nigerians who voted for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015.

He said he reminded Buhari that many Nigerians believed they were electing the same leader who ruled Nigeria as a military Head of State between 1983 and 1985.

“Mr President, do you realise that when Nigerians were voting for us, they thought they were voting for the Buhari of 1983?” Amaechi recalled asking.

According to him, Buhari responded: “That Buhari was young. That Buhari had no parliament. So it’s different.”

Amaechi said the response suggested that Buhari understood the limitations and pressures associated with democratic governance.

Despite his criticism, the former Rivers governor declined to describe Buhari’s administration as a complete failure.

He pointed to achievements in road construction, railway development and water projects during the administration.

“There was progress on the side of the roads. There was progress on the side of the rails. There was progress in the issue of water,” he said.

Amaechi also maintained that Buhari genuinely loved Nigeria and gave ministers significant freedom to perform their duties.

The former minister was, however, critical of the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

When asked to identify any major achievement of the government since May 2023, Amaechi said he could not point to any.

“What has Tinubu done successfully?” he asked.

When fuel subsidy removal and increased government revenue were suggested as possible achievements, Amaechi dismissed the argument.

According to him, government policies have not translated into meaningful improvements in the lives of ordinary Nigerians.

“I have not seen any,” he said.

“I have seen no success in this government.”

Amaechi argued that economic hardship and poverty had worsened despite the administration’s reform agenda.

He accused political leaders of enriching themselves while citizens continue to struggle.

The former governor also reiterated his presidential ambition, saying Nigeria’s economic challenges would have been handled differently under his leadership.

“I would not be suffering what President Tinubu is suffering if I were to be president,” he said.

“People would not be dying of hunger.”

Amaechi served as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Governor of Rivers State from 2007 to 2015, Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Minister of Transportation from 2015 to 2023.

He recently contested the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential primary but lost to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar ahead of the 2027 general elections.