Former governor of Rivers State, former Minister of Transportation and Vice Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rotimi Amaechi, on Wednesday defended plan by ADC presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to reintroduce what he described as production subsidy.
Amaechi spoke at the ADC National Women’s League Inauguration and Unveiling of ADC Women 1-10 Votes initiative in Abuja.
“The greatest asset you have is that the presidential candidate has said, I will bring back subsidy. We are not saying we are putting back consumer subsidy. We say we are putting back production subsidy,” he said.
He explained that production subsidy would mean supporting local refiners by supplying crude at reduced cost to bring down price of fuel, which he said affects transport, food and other costs.
He illustrated the impact of fuel subsidy removal on the cost of haircuts, transport and kerosene, arguing that reduction in fuel price would have ripple effect on cost of living.
Amaechi urged wives of governors and women leaders to put pressure on their husbands to work for victory.
“If anybody tells you that men are not controlled by their wives, they are lying. My wife controls me,” he said.
He said if ADC wins the presidential election, party will fight to win governorship seats as well, as the President cannot govern without governors.
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He announced a plan to visit Delta, Edo and Cross River states for mobilisation, saying he would dress simply to identify with ordinary Nigerian.
He charged women to return to their states and mobilise at ward level.
“This one to 10 is small. If you bring 2,000 votes per ward, you are bringing 17 million votes. We have won the election,” he said.
Amaechi said the struggle to take power requires women at forefront, recalling role of women in liberation of South Africa and in APC’s campaign to unseat previous government.
He said economic hardship has worsened since he left government, citing figures on out-of-school children and illiteracy.
“By the time I left government as minister, there were between 10 and 12 million out-of-school children. Today, there are 20 million. 80 percent from the North,” he said.
He said there are 92 million illiterate Nigerians, with 80 percent from North, describing figure as higher than under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Amaechi accused President Bola Tinubu administration of worsening cost of living, referencing fuel price increase and food importation.
He said importation of rice undermines local farmers empowered under the Anchor Borrowers Programme of the Central Bank of Nigeria during Buhari administration.
He also criticised the display of wealth by children of political leaders, asking Nigerians to question sources of wealth.
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