Former Rivers State governor and African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate, Chibuike Amaechi, and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, engaged in a heated exchange during the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) conference in Port Harcourt on Monday.
The confrontation followed Sowore’s criticism of Nigeria’s political elite, whom he accused of contributing to the country’s economic challenges despite having previously occupied public offices.
Addressing participants at the conference, Sowore urged Nigerians to be wary of politicians returning with fresh promises after failing to deliver during their previous tenures.
“Please, please, don’t let these politicians lie to you,” he said.
Sowore referenced an earlier comment he attributed to Amaechi, saying politicians who had previously served in government had failed and should not seek a return to power.
“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 said.
He then criticised Amaechi’s record as both Rivers State governor and minister of transportation, questioning some of the projects executed under his watch.
Sowore particularly faulted the railway project linking Rivers State, arguing that its failure to deliver the expected benefits reflected shortcomings in government policy.
“We have a former governor of Rivers State here, Amaechi, who built a rail line that went nowhere,” he said.
He also accused the former governor of failing to adequately support education and other sectors during his tenure, alleging that lecturers and doctors in the state embarked on prolonged strikes.
“You may like him as a person, but he did not perform as a governor. That is the truth,” Sowore added.
Amaechi, however, rejected the criticism and defended his record both as governor and minister.
Responding to Sowore’s comments on his railway projects, Amaechi cited the Lagos-Ibadan and Abuja-Kaduna rail lines, asking the audience whether the projects were operational during his tenure.
“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 asked.
When Sowore attempted to interject and return the discussion to Amaechi’s record as Rivers governor, the former minister interrupted him and challenged him to visit projects executed during his administration.
“Where are the Rivers lawyers? Please take Sowore around,” Amaechi said, asking lawyers at the conference to show Sowore some of the projects.
He proceeded to list roads and schools he said were constructed under his administration.
“I said I built that road. I built this road. I built this primary school. I built that primary school,” he said.
Turning directly to Sowore, Amaechi asked, “Sowore, what is your experience?”
He then warned: “When politicians are talking, close your mouth.”
The exchange drew attention at the conference, with both politicians maintaining sharply contrasting views on their records and the performance of Nigeria’s political class.
