“He prays God should save Nigeria from Tinubu’s hands” — Sam Amadi recounts emotional conversation with federal director over ministerial sackings

Public affairs analyst and former chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, Sam Amadi, has shared details of what he described as a deeply emotional conversation with a director in a federal ministry, following recent discussions around ministerial changes in the country’s economic management team.

 

Amadi, who is also a columnist with Financial Nigeria and a TV analyst on Arise News, made the disclosure in a post on his official X account titled “Renewed Tragedy.”

 

According to him, the conversation took place shortly after he featured on a television analysis programme where he discussed the reported sack of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, as well as developments in the housing sector.

 

He said a senior civil servant reached out to him afterwards and expressed strong concerns about governance practices under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, particularly in relation to budget implementation and project financing.

 

In the post, Amadi quoted the unnamed director as alleging that many technocrats were being frustrated due to what he described as delays or refusal in the release of funds for projects, claiming that budgetary allocations were being diverted toward political purposes. He also referenced claims attributed to the World Bank regarding public finance management, though no specific report was cited in the post.

 

The director, according to Amadi, also suggested that some officials in government were aware of consequences faced by those who speak out, and expressed concern about accountability within the system. He further claimed that certain appointments and replacements within the fiscal management structure were politically motivated.

 

Amadi wrote that the director, who is nearing retirement, lamented the challenges faced by contractors and service providers allegedly owed for completed work due to funding bottlenecks.

 

“He wailed and prayed that somehow God would save Nigeria from Tinubu,” Amadi quoted him as saying.

 

The analyst added that the conversation left him unsettled, prompting him to reflect on perceptions of the current administration’s performance. He argued that support for government policies, in his view, appears to be concentrated among a limited group of beneficiaries, including political office holders, some business actors, and online influencers, while suggesting broader public dissatisfaction.

 

Amadi concluded by inviting public responses from Nigerians who believe the administration has performed well, outside the categories he listed.

 

The remarks have since sparked conversations online, as debates continue over economic management, public sector financing, and the impact of ongoing fiscal reforms under the Tinubu administration.