Former Rivers State Governor and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has made a controversial statement on Nigeria’s governance and civic culture, arguing that the country’s challenges go beyond leadership and are rooted in the behaviour of citizens.…....
Amaechi made the remarks during an interview on Trust TV, where he spoke on governance, insecurity, and public accountability in Nigeria. The former governor said Nigerians themselves must take responsibility for the persistent problems facing the country.
Speaking during the interview, Amaechi said, “I continue to say to Nigerians the problem is not President Tinubu, Nigerians are the problem. These things can’t happen in South Africa.”
The former minister drew a comparison between Nigeria and South Africa, suggesting that certain levels of disorder and governance failures would not be tolerated in other countries with stronger civic discipline and institutional accountability. He implied that national development is not solely dependent on political leadership but also on the conduct and attitudes of citizens.
Amaechi’s comments come amid ongoing debates over insecurity, economic hardship, and public dissatisfaction with government performance under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Nigeria has continued to face challenges including inflation, unemployment, and repeated incidents of violence in various regions, prompting widespread public criticism of both federal and state authorities.
The former governor argued that sustainable progress requires collective responsibility, where citizens demand accountability, obey laws, and resist corrupt practices, while leaders also provide effective governance.
