Former Minister of Transportation and prominent political figure Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has dropped another political bombshell, declaring that Nigerian politicians will never stop stealing public funds until ordinary citizens rise up and physically confront them.
Amaechi made the daring statement on Friday night, May 22, 2026, during a live interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time. His comments have immediately ignited widespread debate across social media regarding citizen accountability and the deteriorating state of governance in Nigeria.
Recalling the Nelson Mandela Tribute Warning
During the interview, Amaechi reflected on a historical warning he gave years ago during his tenure as the Governor of Rivers State. He reiterated that his stance on the passivity of Nigerian citizens has not changed.
“As a governor of Rivers State at Freedom House in a ceremony organized by Prof Wole Soyinka, I told Nigerians that we the politicians will not stop stealing if Nigerians don’t stone us,” Amaechi recalled.
He lamented that the lack of direct, aggressive resistance from the public acts as a green light for corrupt public officials to continue enriching themselves at the expense of the masses.
“Governance is Slowly Dying”
Amaechi, who is actively screening for the presidential ticket under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), sought to distance himself from the broader political class while sounding an alarm about the country’s institutional decay.
- The Impoverishment Metric: Amaechi bluntly accused his peers of weaponizing poverty to maintain control over the electorate.
- A Different Breed: He asserted that while “governance is slowly dying and it’s quite painful,” there are still a few exceptions. “I’m a different politician and there are others as well. A lot of governors have made positive contributions,” he stated.
The “Rule of Law” & The Weaponization of Hunger
The “stone us” comment was part of a broader critique of the current political climate. Amaechi took direct shots at the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing them of creating economic hardship to manipulate voters on election day.
- The Rice Tactic: Amaechi claimed the government intentionally creates hunger so they can distribute palliatives during elections. “A bag of rice does not solve hunger for the rest of the year. On election day, Nigerians will collect the bag of rice and still vote against them,” he warned.
- His Blueprint: If he secures the presidency, Amaechi revealed his immediate priority would be an absolute return to law and order. “The first thing I will do as president of Nigeria is the rule of law. There has to be law and order.”
At a Glance: Amaechi’s Arise TV Critiques
| Topic | Amaechi’s Position |
| Political Corruption | Politicians will keep stealing until citizens show physical resistance (“stone us”). |
| State of the Nation | Governance is “slowly dying” in Nigeria. |
| APC Strategy | Accused the ruling party of weaponizing hunger via temporary food sharing. |
| First Presidential Act | Enforcement of the strict Rule of Law and institutional order. |
Amaechi’s fiery interview has divided public opinion. While supporters praise him for his blunt honesty and self-awareness as an insider, critics are quick to remind the former two-term minister and two-term governor that he was a key architect of the very political system he is now criticizing.
With the political landscape heating up, Amaechi’s unreserved rhetoric signals that his campaign will be built on aggressive anti-establishment messaging, despite his decades-long career within that very establishment.