By Ken Afor
Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, a former Minister of Transportation, has stated that Nigerians shouldn’t complain after voting for a candidate of their choice in an election.
In an interview with Arise Television, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, a two-time Governor of Rivers State, emphasized that addressing the country’s challenges requires acknowledging the role of those in government.
Addressing the escalating emigration of young Nigerians, the former minister highlighted the economy, insecurity, and insufficient job opportunities as the motivating factors. He stressed that resolving these issues rest on the shoulders of the government.
He said, “I’m avoiding where you’re going to. You can’t discuss the issue of Nigeria without discussing politics. It’s because you have to discuss the issue of the economy. Who manages the economy? The government. You have to discuss the issue of safety and security, who manages safety and security? The government.
“You have to discuss the issue of creation of opportunities, creation of employment, and all that. So, what you can tell is Nigerians get what they want. Nigerians get what they deserve. You don’t complain after.
“Nigerians at all time have had an opportunity to vote, whatever you voted for is what you deserve, but again, let’s not go into politics.”
Nevertheless, he encouraged citizens to stay in Nigeria and explore the untapped potential within their own country.
“I have always discouraged those who want to leave the country, I say 9-5? Yes, you can always get 9-5 job when you leave the country, but you can never get the opportunity you get in Nigeria.
“You can just wake up one day and become a minister in Nigeria. You can just wake up one day, and you become a governor. It just happens, I don’t know how the country operates.
“So if you’re looking for opportunities please stay back in Nigeria. If you’re looking for 9-5, safety and all that… one of my friends said to me that supposing you’re waiting for an opportunity and they kill you? Well, maybe that’s your destiny.. honestly, the opportunities are here,” Amaechi added.
He underscored that the opportunities he mentioned are accessible to only a small fraction of the population.
“You just assumed the opportunities is about being in public office.
“I’m giving that example now. There are about 200 million Nigerians, just assume that you start cooking moi moi and you sell to one million Nigerians at one naira. How much is that? I think that’s about 10m naira.”
