‘Nigeria Sitting On Keg Of Gunpowder’ – Eze Defends Amaechi Over Economic Hardship Comments

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has condemned the barrage of criticisms directed at former Transportation Minister, Chibuike Amaechi, over his comments on Nigeria’s economic hardship.

Amaechi had expressed surprise at the lack of agitation from Nigerians over the country’s economic situation, sparking reactions from Presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, Minister of State for Defence Bello Matawalle, SA on Information to President Bola Tinubu Bayo Onanuga, Senator Shehu Sani, and APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka.

Eze described the attacks on Amaechi as unwarranted and misguided, stressing that the former minister’s comments were a clarion call for the President Bola Tinubu administration to address the country’s economic woes.

“Nigeria is sitting on a keg of gunpowder… Citizens must come together to redeem the country from plunderers,” Eze said.

He noted that Amaechi’s concerns were valid, given the rising inflation rate, unemployment, and widespread poverty in the country.

Eze queried; “What is particularly difficult for Sowore’ Morka, Mattawalle, Sani and Onanuga to comprehend in Amaechi’s sincere expression? Are Nigerians not suffering the effects of the clueless policies of the Tinubu administration?

Continuing, he said; “What signs are there that the administration is interested in listening to the cries and tackling the frustration of Nigerians? Was it not few days ago that the President Bola Tinubu led APC government increased fuel pump price to over One Thousand Naira while doing nothing to combat the attendant poverty, insecurity and deaths.

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“It is unpatriotic and grossly wicked that in the face of the hydra headed challenges overwhelming Nigeria, APC, Sowore and the Tinubu government expect the likes of Amaechi to be stocked like pieces of furniture and watch the country slide into the abyss.

“As a matter of fact, Nigeria will collapse and remain irredeemably so, should patriotic Nigerians like Amaechi, keep mum over the spate of economic crisis that has encircled the Nigerian state as a result of the reckless indulgences of the clueless Tinubu regime.

According to him, the barrage of baseless media invectives hurled at Amaechi by the Tinubu regime alongside APC, over his honest concerns on the state of the nation is condemnable and exposes the plot by the government to perpetuate poverty and deploy same as a veritable tool for 2027 and this stack reality calls for serious concern.

“One would have loved to hear the presidency tell Nigerians the policy thrust of the administration in driving the country out the current hardship, rather than the frivolous reactions that were put up as a defense to the woeful results the regime has continued to churn out since it’s inception”

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), inflation surged to 25.8% in August 2023, the highest rate in nearly two decades, while food inflation has reached alarming levels, hovering at around 30%.

A recent World Bank report indicated that over 40% of Nigeria’s population, over 83 million people, live below the poverty line, with the numbers rising daily.

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He, therefore urged the APC and the Tinubu administration to focus on providing genuine democratic governance to Nigerians rather than attacking dissenting voices.

Eze also referenced President Tinubu’s past criticisms of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, noting that the current government should address the country’s problems rather than dismissing concerns.

In his words, “Let me conclude this statement by bringing President Tinubu to answer Matawalle and Onanuga on Amaechi. Read Bola Tinubu’s outburst against Jonathan as he led a protest against the then federal government…”