A political session at the 66th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, in Port Harcourt turned heated after politicians Omoyele Sowore and Rotimi Amaechi clashed over governance and the records of former public officials.
The African Action Congress presidential candidate, Sowore, and the former Rivers State governor, Amaechi also disagreed over fuel subsidy removal, transportation infrastructure and the performance of past administrations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Amaechi, who represented African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar at the session, challenged Sowore to point to his own experience in governance as the two clashed over the performance of past administrations, fuel subsidy removal and transportation infrastructure ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Sowore argued that politicians who had previously held public office should account for their records before seeking power again, questioning Amaechi’s performance as Rivers governor and Minister of Transportation and also criticizing former Anambra State governor Peter Obi.
He said politicians who had governed the country or states and failed should not return to seek public office without answering questions about their past performance.
“I love one thing that Amaechi said. He said that apart from Sowore and Adebayo, the rest of us have been in government and we have failed. They have no business coming back. You guys should be apologizing to the Nigerian people,” Sowore said.
He also linked the performance of previous governments to the debate over fuel subsidy removal, arguing that adequate transportation infrastructure should have provided Nigerians with alternatives to the rising cost of fuel.
Sowore criticized a rail project associated with Amaechi’s tenure as Rivers governor, arguing that infrastructure projects should be assessed based on their practical impact on citizens.
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He further accused Amaechi and his political allies of changing their position on fuel subsidy removal after years of opposing the policy.
“If there’s anyone who has been consistent about not removing our subsidies, it has been me. And it took Amaechi and his principal almost 10 years to catch up with me,” Sowore said.
Amaechi rejected the criticism, saying his record should be judged by the projects delivered during his time in office.
He cited roads and primary schools constructed during his tenure as Rivers governor and pointed to railway projects completed while he served as Minister of Transportation.
“Lagos-Ibadan railway, is it working or not? At my time, it was working. I don’t know what is happening under Tinubu. There is Abuja-Kaduna rail, working or not?” Amaechi said.
As the exchange intensified, Amaechi challenged Sowore to inspect projects executed during his administration in Rivers State and asked lawyers from the state to take the AAC candidate around.
“Where are Rivers lawyers? Please take Sowore around. Sowore, I said I built that road. I built this road. I built this primary school. I built that primary school. What is your experience?” he asked. “When politicians are talking, Sowore, close your mouth,” Amaechi added.
The 66th NBA Annual General Conference, themed “Beyond Limits,” is being held in Port Harcourt from August 21 to 28, bringing together lawyers and prominent political figures for discussions on governance, leadership and Nigeria’s political future.
The confrontation formed part of a broader political session at the conference, which has provided a platform for debate on the performance of past administrations and the issues likely to shape the 2027 general elections.
Daily Trust
