Chibuike Amaechi, former governor of Rivers state and vice-presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), clashed with Omoyele Sowore, presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), during the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers state capital, on Monday.
Amaechi was responding to Sowore’s criticism that members of Nigeria’s political elite, including the former minister of transportation, had contributed to the country’s economic problems.
Addressing the audience, Sowore, launched a direct broadside against establishment politicians, calling on voters to reject repeated promises from figures who had previously held office.
”Please, please, don’t let these politicians lie to you,” Sowore urged the audience.
Highlighting an alleged earlier admissions made by Amaechi, Sowore 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.”
Turning directly to Amaechi’s tenure as governor of Rivers state and minister of transportation, Sowore criticised past handling of major state projects 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,” Sowore said.
“And we can’t ignore that those of you who had governed before refused to subsidise your people.”
Sowore further pointed to labour unrest during Amaechi’s governorship.
“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,” he said.
However, the former governor of Rivers defended his record in office and challenged Sowore to point to his own experience in governance.
Amaechi cited some of the major railway projects undertaken 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 interject by raising Amaechi’s record as Rivers governor, but the former minister cut him short.
Amaechi challenged Sowore to inspect projects he said were executed during his tenure as governor.
“Where are the Rivers lawyers? Please take Sowore around. Where are the Rivers lawyers who are present? Take Sowore around,” he said.
Amaechi proceeded to list projects he claimed to have executed in the state.
“I said I built that road. I built this road. I built this primary school. I built that primary school,” he said.
He then turned to Sowore and asked: “Sowore, what is your experience?”
“When politicians are talking, close your mouth,” Amaechi added.