The Grassroots Mobilisation Initiative (GMI), has condemned recent remarks made by a former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, describing them as “reckless, inflammatory, and a veiled call to violence.”
Amaechi had reportedly suggested that the only way to prevent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from returning to power in 2027 was for Nigerians to “take their fate into their own hands.”
He further alleged that fewer than 100,000 elites are plundering the country’s wealth while 200 million Nigerians continue to suffer, implying a potential uprising against the ruling class.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the National Coordinator of GMI, Samaila Musa, described Amaechi’s comments as “deeply troubling,” warning that they pose a grave threat to the peace and stability of the country.
The group urged Nigerians , especially the youth, to resist any call to violence, stressing that meaningful change can only be achieved through peaceful means and civic engagement.
Musa said: “The implication that Nigerians should emulate the actions of citizens in other countries, such as Bangladesh, Peru, or Chile, disregards the unique socio-political context of Nigeria. Our nation has a history of violence that must not be reignited by the careless words of a frustrated political figure who has held significant positions of power.
The group firmly rebukes Amaechi’s statement that revolutions cannot occur without bloodshed. This notion is not only misguided but also a direct invitation to violence. We must remind Amaechi of the responsibilities that come with his previous roles in government.
“As a former minister, he had the opportunity to contribute to nation-building and social cohesion, yet he now chooses to incite division and discord. Such behavior is unbecoming of a leader and is detrimental to the progress of our society.
“It is disheartening to witness a former leader, who has benefited from the very system he now criticizes, resort to inflammatory language. His comments reflect a profound misunderstanding of the power dynamics in Nigeria and a dangerous underestimation of the consequences of his words.”
He urged Amaechi to reconsider his stance and engage in constructive dialogue rather than inciting violence among the populace.