Nigeria’s former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has expressed his disappointment over the calmness with which the masses are responding to the nation’s current economic challenges. He added that he had expected more visible reactions from citizens, particularly the youth.
Amaechi stated this in an interview with ABN TV, lamenting the high cost of living, rising fuel prices, and other economic concerns. He noted that he was surprised by the calmness of Nigerians.
“I expected more agitation, especially from the youth.
“I thought we would see protests in the streets, but it seems people are not expressing the kind of anger I expected,” the former Governor of Rivers State added.
Amaechi, who served as Minister of Transportation for nearly eight years under the Muhammadu Buhari administration, pointed out that there has been no significant pushback from the public despite the rising cost of living.
“You cannot have a situation where a group of people are mismanaging resources and expect citizens to remain silent. I am truly baffled by the lack of action,” he said.
Amaechi referenced Edo State as an example, questioning whether politicians should be seen campaigning, given the state of the economy.
“I’m angry with the citizens; people should be angry. There should be protests. We will not vote; there will be no election in our state because of the current rate of hunger,” Amaechi said.
He highlighted the unaffordable cost of diesel as an example of how difficult things have become:
“The price of diesel is at an all-time high, and even some of us are finding it difficult to afford it. Yet, the general public seems unmoved,” he stated.
