Former Rivers State Governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, engaged in a heated exchange at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) conference in Port Harcourt on Monday.
The confrontation followed Sowore’s criticism of politicians who, after holding public office, seek to return to power despite what he described as poor performance.
Sowore challenged voters to reject politicians who had previously governed the country or states, arguing that many of them had failed to deliver on their promises.
He specifically criticised Amaechi’s record as Rivers governor and minister of transportation, accusing him of failing to adequately invest in education and questioning the usefulness of the railway projects executed during his tenure.
“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, however, rejected the criticism and defended his record in office.
He cited the Lagos-Ibadan and Abuja-Kaduna railway projects, asking whether the rail lines were operational during his tenure as transportation minister.
“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.
The former governor also challenged Sowore to inspect projects executed during his administration 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 proceeded to list some of the projects he said his administration completed, including roads and primary schools.
“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 then warned politicians against interrupting others during discussions, telling Sowore: “When politicians are talking, close your mouth.”
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