Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, says former Rivers State governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, would not have attained the political positions he held if activists had not fought for democracy during Nigeria’s military rule.
Sowore made the claim in an interview with Arise Television on Tuesday, a day after he and Amaechi clashed at the annual conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The confrontation came on the heels of Sowore’s criticism of Nigerian politicians who have previously occupied public offices, urging voters to reject what he described as repeated promises from political leaders.
Sowore also questioned Amaechi’s handling of the rail project during his tenure as governor of Rivers State.
Amaechi subsequently responded by listing infrastructure projects he executed as governor and later as Minister of Transportation.
The former governor also told Sowore to “close his mouth” when experienced politicians were speaking and challenged the activist to demonstrate his own experience.
However, Sowore said his confrontation with Amaechi was rooted in the democratic struggle that made it possible for politicians like him to participate freely in Nigeria’s political system.
“If I did not fight for democracy, Rotimi Amaechi would not be standing there yesterday. If we are still under military rule, he would never have been speaker, governor for eight years, and minister for eight years,” Sowore said.
“He is one of the guys who benefitted from my extraordinary struggle for democracy. That is what I said to him after the event.”
Sowore said the confrontation did not end with the exchange at the NBA conference.
According to him, Amaechi later invited him to his home for a meal after their public disagreement.
