‘We’ll Meet at The Field’ – ADC VP Candidate Amaechi Replies Tinubu
The vice presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2027 election, Rotimi Amaechi, has responded to President Bola Tinubu’s recent remarks that anyone seeking to remove him from office must be ready to “wrestle” him until the end.
Amaechi made the remarks during an interview on Channels TV while reacting to the controversy surrounding comments by the Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria had on Tuesday last week met President Tinubu at the State House.
Tinubu had, during the meeting, reaffirmed his determination to seek re-election in 2027. The President said he would not make it easy for his opponents, insisting that politics was a contest in which everyone had equal opportunities.
“I asked for this job. I’m in it. Those who will take it from me will try. They will try. All is fair in politics, and it’s equal opportunity,” Tinubu said.
He also defended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), describing it as neutral.
His words, “I’m ready, but I won’t give them a red carpet. I won’t offer them the leash to tie me and rope me. No, we wrestle each other to the finishing point.”
Reacting to the President’s statement, Amaechi said he was not intimidated by Tinubu’s comments and insisted that the opposition would meet him at the polls.
“What can I tell you? Let the President continue to tell the public that he will win the election at all costs until we get to the field. Whatever the President wants us to do in the field, we will do it in the field,” Amaechi said.
He added, “So, for me, I’m not worried about what he wants to do, whether he will wrestle or not. We will meet in the field. Nigeria has to be rescued.”
Amaechi also accused the President and his aides of insulting his Christian faith and the Catholic Church over their reaction to comments made by Cardinal Onaiyekan after the bishops’ meeting with Tinubu.
“The issue is that what the President and his men are doing is insulting my faith. They are insulting the Catholic Church,” he said.
The former Rivers State governor’s comments came after Cardinal Onaiyekan’s interview sparked strong reactions from supporters of the President and officials of the Presidency.
Following the meeting with the President, Onaiyekan said Tinubu appeared determined to win the 2027 presidential election “by all means.” He also said the President disagreed with the bishops’ assessment of the country’s economic situation and insisted that conditions were improving despite the hardship being experienced by many Nigerians.
According to the Cardinal, Tinubu’s response suggested that those around him were not giving him an accurate picture of the situation in the country. He recalled that the President appeared unhappy with the bishops’ observations and argued that the economy was getting better rather than accepting their concerns.
“You asked me, how did I see the face of the President in reaction? I was not surprised that he was not looking very happy. Not even his colleagues who were there. We knew that this is different from the kind of statements that our president keeps receiving from all kinds of people,” Onaiyekan said.
