A civil society organization has called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, over comments allegedly inciting violence and bloodshed.
The Coalition for the Defence of Nigeria's Democracy (CDND) described Amaechi's recent public remarks as "inciting, dangerous, and indistinguishable from the separatist rhetoric of Nnamdi Kanu" in a statement issued on Sunday.
Amaechi, who recently defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the controversial statements during the launch of the 2025 Nigeria Social Cohesion Survey Report by the Africa Polling Institute in Abuja.
According to Dr. Rufus Obadiah, National President of CDND, Amaechi's comments—which allegedly included references to revolution and bloodshed—represent a "clear and present threat to Nigeria's fragile stability."
"Amaechi said the only way to stop President Bola Tinubu in 2027 is for Nigerians to take their fate into their own hands—and then went further to suggest that no revolution can succeed without blood. These are not harmless metaphors," Obadiah stated.
The group expressed alarm over Amaechi's attempt to draw parallels between Nigeria and countries like Bangladesh and Peru, where mass protests have resulted in government overthrows.
"When you cite examples of foreign uprisings, celebrate their outcomes, and lament that Nigeria is 'too docile,' you are clearly inciting civil unrest. The law must not treat this lightly," the statement read.
Amaechi, who governed Rivers State from 2007 to 2015 and served as Nigeria's Minister of Transportation under President Muhammadu Buhari from 2015 to 2023, recently declared his intention to run for president in 2027 on the ADC platform, stating he needs only one term to "turn the country around."
CDND dismissed this declaration as "self-righteous opportunism" and criticized Amaechi's 16-year public service record, describing his tenure as Transportation Minister as "underwhelming and overhyped."
The group further took issue with Amaechi's comments blaming citizens for their helplessness in the face of elite domination, calling it a "stunningly arrogant and morally bankrupt position."
During Thursday's event, Amaechi reportedly said: "The elites who are stealing Nigerian money are not up to 100,000 but you have 200 million Nigerians who can fight 100,000 men. You sit down in your house and complain and grumble... What makes you think the elites would move their hands completely?"
CDND described this statement as "a call to arms disguised as political analysis" and called on the Inspector-General of Police, the Department of State Services, and the Office of the Attorney-General to treat Amaechi's speech as a matter of national security.
"No democracy survives when former ministers openly romanticise bloodshed. If Nnamdi Kanu's radio was considered treasonous, then Amaechi's microphone must not become a licence for anarchy," the statement read.
The group also warned that the ADC must distance itself from what it called "extremist populism" or risk becoming a safe harbor for political actors who "traffic in chaos."
Obadiah concluded by urging young Nigerians not to be drawn into "violent fantasy masquerading as reform," insisting that Nigeria's redemption must come through civic pressure, democratic institutions, and constitutional change—not bloodshed.
As of press time, Amaechi has not responded to the allegations or the call for his arrest.
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