ABUJA — In a stinging critique that has exposed the widening cracks within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi has claimed that the very men who “carried President Tinubu on their heads” in 2023 are now trembling in fear of his administration.
In a viral video interview with SYMFONI TV on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, Amaechi specifically taunted former Jigawa State Governor Badaru Abubakar and APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje, suggesting that their political “honeymoon” with the Presidency has turned into a nightmare of paranoia.
The “Unanswered Calls” of a Former Ally
Amaechi, who has noticeably distanced himself from the Villa since the 2023 primaries, revealed that his relationship with his former cabinet colleague, Badaru Abubakar, has completely frozen. According to Amaechi, the former Defence Minister has gone “radio silent” to avoid being associated with any form of dissent.
“Badaru no longer answers my call,” Amaechi said, barely stifling a laugh. “I am looking for him because I want to laugh at him. I am laughing at Ganduje too, because at that time, they were the ones carrying Tinubu on their heads like a sacrifice. Today, they are all crying. They are now terrified of being arrested by the same system they built.”
A Climate of Paranoia?
While Amaechi did not detail the specific crimes he expects his former colleagues to be arrested for, his comments come at a time when the EFCC and SSS have been increasingly active in rounding up former “untouchables.”
From the N423 billion misappropriation probe involving Nasir El-Rufai to the ongoing ownership scandals trailing Abdullahi Ganduje in Kano, the “Renewed Hope” administration has shown a surprising willingness to go after its own founding fathers. Amaechi’s narrative suggests that the hunters have now become the hunted.
“You’re All the Same”—Nigerians Blast Amaechi and the Elite
While Amaechi’s “tell-all” interview has gained massive traction, it has also drawn fierce criticism from a cross-section of Nigerians who view his sudden “whistleblower” status with deep skepticism.
- “The Activism of the Sidelined”: “Amaechi is only laughing because he is on the outside looking in,” remarked Ibrahim Dan-Ali, a political commentator in Abuja. “If he were still a minister, he would be ‘carrying Tinubu on his head’ too. This isn’t about patriotism; it’s about being left out of the sharing formula.”
- “Weaponizing the Law”: Many Nigerians expressed alarm that the law is being used as a political leash. “If Ganduje and Badaru are ‘afraid of arrest,’ it means they have skeletons in their closets that the President is holding over them,” one Facebook user noted. “This is not anti-corruption; it’s political blackmail.”
- “A Circle of Betrayal”: Critics on X (formerly Twitter) blasted the entire political class for focusing on personal feuds while the economy remains in a tailspin. “Amaechi is laughing, Badaru is hiding, and Ganduje is sweating. Meanwhile, Nigerians are starving. These people are a disgrace to leadership,” a viral post read.
The Shifting Sands of 2027
Amaechi’s outspokenness is being interpreted by many as a signal of a new “Mega Party” alliance forming against the President. By publicly mocking the “fear” in the APC camp, the former Rivers Governor appears to be encouraging other “unhappy” members to jump ship before the “arrests” begin.
As of Tuesday evening, neither the APC National Secretariat nor the Office of the former Minister of Defence has responded to Amaechi’s taunts. For now, the “Lion of the South” seems content to watch from the sidelines as the house he helped build begins to smoke.
