ABUJA, Nigeria — Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has criticised former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, over recent comments he made lamenting hunger in Nigeria and expressing dissatisfaction with the current government.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, June1, 2025, Olayinka rebuked Amaechi for what he described as hypocrisy, pointing to the former minister’s lengthy tenure in public office.
“After spending 23 years in government, Rotimi Amaechi is still blaming the government,” Olayinka posted.
“8 years as Speaker, 8 years as governor, and 7 years as Minister. Some people sha no get shame.”
He continued: “Since 1999, Rotimi Amaechi has only been out of Govt for just TWO YEARS. Rotimi Amaechi said he is hungry, and you are supporting him because you don’t like those in govt now.”
The comments were in response to remarks made by Amaechi during his 60th birthday celebration in Abuja, where he said he and many Nigerians were experiencing hunger.
The former minister also criticised the state of governance in Nigeria, arguing that there is a lack of visionary leadership among the political class.
“There are no ideas among Nigerian politicians, hence the fight over sharing of resources,” Amaechi said at the event. He also asserted that an opposition coalition had the potential to unseat President Bola Tinubu.
Amaechi, a former governor of Rivers State and two-term Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, served as Minister of Transportation from 2015 to 2022 under President Muhammadu Buhari.
