NEWS
“When Politicians Are Talking, Sowore, Close Your Mouth” — H.E. Rotimi Amaechi, Sowore Clash at NBA Conference in Port Harcourt
A major political session at the 66th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, erupted into a dramatic war of words after African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, launched a scathing attack on politicians who had previously occupied public office and are seeking another opportunity to lead Nigeria.
At the centre of the heated confrontation was former Rivers State governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, who was representing African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
What began as a discussion on Nigeria’s political future, fuel subsidy removal, transportation policy and the performance of past and present leaders soon turned into a fierce exchange over political records, governance experience and who should be trusted with power ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Sowore took a firm position that politicians who had previously held public office must be held accountable for their records before returning to ask Nigerians for another mandate.
He specifically questioned Amaechi’s years as governor of Rivers State and Minister of Transportation, while also extending his criticism to former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi.
According to Sowore, politicians who had governed without meeting the expectations of the people should not simply return to the political stage without first answering difficult questions about their time in office.
“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 apologising to the Nigerian people,” he said.
Sowore also linked the performance of previous administrations to Nigeria’s long-running debate over the removal of fuel subsidy.
He argued that successive governments should have invested heavily in transportation infrastructure capable of reducing the hardship Nigerians face whenever petrol prices rise.
The AAC presidential candidate particularly criticised a rail project associated with Amaechi’s tenure as Rivers State governor, insisting that infrastructure should ultimately be judged by the practical benefits it delivers to ordinary citizens.
He further accused Amaechi and his political allies of eventually adopting positions on fuel subsidy that they had previously resisted.
“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, however, strongly rejected Sowore’s assessment of his record, insisting that his years in public office should be measured by the projects and infrastructure delivered under his leadership rather than political criticism.
The former Rivers governor pointed to roads and primary schools constructed during his administration in the state and also highlighted major railway projects completed during his tenure 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.
The atmosphere became even more charged as Amaechi openly challenged Sowore to visit Rivers State and inspect projects executed during his administration.
Turning to lawyers from Rivers State at the gathering, Amaechi urged them to personally take the AAC candidate around the state to see what his government had accomplished.
“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.
The confrontation reached its most dramatic point when Amaechi fired another direct remark at Sowore.
“When politicians are talking, Sowore, close your mouth,” Amaechi added.
The exchange underscored the sharp divisions already emerging among political figures positioning themselves and their parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Beyond the personalities involved, the debate brought renewed attention to a central question confronting Nigerian voters: whether politicians seeking another chance at leadership should be judged primarily by their promises for the future or by their records in office.
The 66th NBA Annual General Conference, themed “Beyond Limits,” is being held in Port Harcourt from August 21 to 28.
Although the annual gathering is primarily a meeting of legal practitioners, it has also provided a major platform for conversations extending beyond the legal profession, bringing prominent lawyers, political actors and other stakeholders together to examine issues affecting governance, leadership and Nigeria’s future.
The Amaechi-Sowore confrontation has now emerged as one of the most dramatic political moments of the conference, highlighting the intensity of the debates expected to shape Nigeria’s political landscape as the country moves closer to 2027.