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African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate, Rotimi Amaechi, has pledged to resign from office if Nigerians do not begin to experience tangible improvements within one year of an Atiku Abubakar-led administration.
Amaechi made the commitment during a television interview on Wednesday, challenging Nigerians to hold him accountable for the pledge.
“If Nigeria does not begin to change one year after we have come to office, come to me, I will resign,” he said.
He, however, clarified that the proposed administration would not be expected to solve every national problem within one year, but insisted that Nigerians should notice meaningful improvements.
“You will have a breath of fresh air,” he said.
Amaechi did not specify particular economic or social indicators that would be used to measure the promised change.
On fuel prices, he defended Atiku’s proposal to support local refining through a production subsidy, arguing that the removal of petrol subsidy had increased transportation and production costs and contributed to higher prices of essential goods.
He said the proposed policy would involve government selling crude oil to domestic refiners below the international benchmark, with the difference effectively serving as the subsidy.
Using an example, Amaechi said crude oil worth N15,000 on the international market could be sold to domestic refiners for N10,000, with the N5,000 difference representing government support.
He argued that cheaper domestic refining could reduce the cost of transportation, food, bread, diesel and other essentials, adding that the Petroleum Industry Act could be amended if necessary to facilitate the policy.
On the country's refineries, Amaechi cautioned against making specific promises on their rehabilitation before assessing their actual condition and determining the cost involved.
“Until you get into government, don’t be like those who made promises and when they got into government, they were overwhelmed,” he said.
He said an Atiku-Amaechi administration would place agriculture and its entire value chain, including processing and industrialisation, among its priorities.
Amaechi also linked economic development to the fight against insecurity, arguing that creating jobs and sustainable livelihoods would reduce the pool of people vulnerable to recruitment by criminal groups.
Reflecting on his tenure as Rivers State governor, he said his administration combined security measures with employment initiatives, agricultural support and community development.
He cited the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency, saying it trained and supported farmers and generated about N1 billion annually before becoming self-sustaining towards the end of his tenure.
Amaechi also said his administration awarded contracts to local contractors, built primary healthcare centres and distributed road projects across communities as part of efforts to stimulate employment.
He identified security, education and the economy as key areas requiring attention, while recalling his administration's efforts to address shortages of science teachers in Rivers State secondary schools.
Responding to suggestions that the ADC ticket was primarily seeking support from Northern voters, Amaechi said economic hardship affected Nigerians across regional and ethnic boundaries.
“Hunger does not know where you come from,” he said, describing himself as a “detribalised Nigerian” and citing his recommendation of Hadiza Bala Usman, from Northern Nigeria, as Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority while he served as transport minister.
Amaechi also recalled disagreements with former President Muhammadu Buhari over the direction of his administration, saying he subsequently reduced his participation in government while acknowledging infrastructure projects undertaken during Buhari's tenure.
He criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu over insecurity and what he described as the arrest of opposition supporters, arguing that government had a constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property.
Amaechi said an ADC-led government would also pursue measures to reduce corruption and redirect public resources towards productive sectors.
