Amaechi Describes Tinubu Government as ‘Alibaba And 40 Thieves’, Unveils ADC’s Fuel Subsidy Plan

Former Minister of Transportation and African Democratic Congress (ADC) Vice Presidential Candidate, Rotimi Amaechi, has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of unprecedented levels of alleged corruption, describing the government as “Alibaba and the 40 thieves.”

Amaechi made the comments during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, where he compared the current administration with that of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to him, although there were allegations of stealing under Buhari, the situation under the present government was considerably worse.

“If there was stealing in Buhari’s government, can you compare it to what is going on now? What is going on now is what I call ‘Alibaba and the 40 thieves’,” he said.

The ADC vice presidential candidate also questioned the rationale behind the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, alleging that President Tinubu chose to embark on the project because of the benefits he stood to gain from it.

On the economy, Amaechi said Nigerians were beginning to miss Buhari’s administration because of the worsening economic conditions, urging citizens to compare their living standards under both administrations.

He also disclosed that the ADC, under the leadership of its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, plans to reintroduce fuel subsidy through a production-based model.

Amaechi explained that the proposed arrangement would prioritise local production, stressing that subsidy benefits would only be extended to fuel produced within Nigeria.

“Atiku has come up with a better procedure to manage fuel subsidy. We are reintroducing production fuel subsidy. If you don’t produce in Nigeria, we will not give you subsidy,” he stated.

On the legal dispute surrounding the court judgment voiding Atiku Abubakar’s emergence as the ADC presidential candidate, Amaechi accused Justice Peter Lifu of failing to release the judgment to the party despite its application.

He said the party needed the certified judgment to pursue an appeal, alleging that the judge had withheld the document.

Amaechi further alleged that the judiciary had repeatedly become an obstacle whenever opposition parties made significant political progress, citing the experience of the late MKO Abiola.

He expressed concern over judicial interference in opposition politics and questioned why the party’s lawyers failed to prevent the situation.

The former Rivers State governor also challenged President Tinubu to provide evidence for claims that Atiku used public funds to establish the American University of Nigeria (AUN).

“Show the evidence!” Amaechi demanded, warning against attempts to intimidate opposition figures.

He maintained that the opposition should be allowed to operate freely and hold the government accountable as the country approaches the 2027 general elections.