The All Progressives Congress (APC) has launched a scathing attack on former Rivers State Governor and African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate, Rotimi Amaechi, accusing him of being unable to sustain himself outside public office.
The APC, in a statement issued on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, also mocked Amaechi over his reported claim that he could not afford medication for his late mother, Dame Ezinne Mary Oduah Amaechi, who died at the age of 89.
The party said it prayed for the repose of the deceased while also wishing Amaechi “excellent health of mind and body,” before launching into a highly critical assessment of his financial circumstances after leaving public office.
Morka said Amaechi had occupied several influential public positions over four decades, including two terms as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, two terms as governor, two terms as Minister of Transportation and, more recently, a presidential aspirant and ADC vice-presidential candidate.
According to the APC, Amaechi’s account of his financial difficulties after leaving office raised questions about his ability to sustain himself outside government.
“Rotimi Amaechi, you must be a loafer outside public office,” the party declared in the statement titled “Rotimi Amaechi, You Must Be A Loafer Outside Public Office.”
The APC recalled an earlier reported comment attributed to Amaechi that he had become so broke and hungry that his wife was feeding him, linking it to his latest statement about being unable to afford his mother’s medication.
“First, he howled that he had become so broke and hungry that his wife was now feeding him. Now, he has stated that his inability to afford medications killed his mother at 89,” the party said.
The ruling party further alleged that Amaechi had benefited from public office for decades but had become financially distressed only a few years after leaving government.
It questioned why a former governor and minister would allegedly be unable to generate sufficient income outside public office, describing him as “aimless and irresponsible” and accusing him of relying on public patronage.
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The APC also took aim at Amaechi’s ambition to become Nigeria’s vice president in the 2027 general election, alleging that his motivation was to return to the public treasury.
“The presidency is not a soup kitchen, and will not be a soup kitchen for Rotimi Amaechi,” the party said.
It concluded that Amaechi’s own comments, rather than the APC’s criticism, provided the strongest argument against his suitability for the vice-presidential position.
“There can be no better speaker of Rotimi Amaechi’s unfitness for the office of vice president than Rotimi Amaechi himself,” the party stated.
The statement was signed by Morka on behalf of the APC.