Former Rivers State Governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore exchanged heated words during the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) conference in Port Harcourt on Monday.
The confrontation followed Sowore’s criticism of Nigeria’s political elite, including Amaechi, whom he accused of contributing to the country’s economic challenges during their time in government.
While addressing the audience, Sowore urged Nigerians to reject politicians who had previously held public office and were returning with promises of change.
“Please, please, don’t let these politicians lie to you,” Sowore said.
Referring to an earlier comment attributed to Amaechi, he added: “I loved one thing that Amaechi said. He said, apart from Sowore and Abiola, the rest of us that have been in government have failed. They have no business coming back.”
Sowore subsequently criticised Amaechi’s records as Rivers governor and transportation minister, particularly on infrastructure and public sector funding.
“When it comes to subsidy, transportation policy is important. We have a former governor of Rivers state here, Amaechi, who built a rail line that went nowhere. If that rail line was working subsidy would have been working for Rivers people,” he said.
“And we can’t ignore that those of you who had governed before refused to subsidise your people.”
He also faulted Amaechi’s administration over alleged labour unrest in the education and health sectors.
“You did not subsidise education in your state. Lecturers and doctors went on strike for 13 months! You may like him as a person, but he did not perform as a governor. That is the truth,” Sowore said.
Amaechi defends his record
Amaechi, who is the African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate, defended his record and challenged Sowore to point to his own experience in governance.
He cited major railway projects carried out during his tenure as Minister of Transportation, including the Lagos-Ibadan and Abuja-Kaduna rail lines.
“Who are those from Lagos? Is the Lagos-Ibadan railway working or not? In my time, it was working. I don’t know what is happening under Tinubu. There is Abuja-Kaduna rail, working or not?” Amaechi said.
Sowore attempted to interrupt Amaechi while he was speaking about his record, but the former governor cut him off and challenged him to inspect projects he claimed to have completed during his tenure in Rivers State.
“Where are the Rivers lawyers? Please take Sowore around. Where are the Rivers lawyers who are present? Take Sowore around,” he said.
Amaechi then listed several projects he said his administration completed across the state.
“I said I built that road. I built this road. I built this primary school. I built that primary school,” he said.
Turning to Sowore, Amaechi asked: “Sowore, what is your experience?”
He concluded with a warning to the AAC candidate, saying: “When politicians are talking, close your mouth.”