I Don’t Want You to Poison Me” — Sowore Breaks Silence on Amaechi Clash

African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has disclosed that he demanded an apology from former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi following their heated exchange at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt.

According to Ireporter Online, the disagreement occurred during a political session at the conference on Monday and was reportedly triggered by contrasting views on governance, political leadership and their respective contributions to Nigeria’s democratic development.

Speaking on Arise News on Tuesday, Sowore explained that he contacted Amaechi after the incident and told him that the former governor owed him an apology. He said Amaechi subsequently invited him to his residence for food and drinks.

Sowore recounted the exchange humorously, saying he declined the invitation and jokingly told Amaechi that he did not want to be poisoned because he believed the former governor was unhappy with him.

The AAC candidate also defended his political credentials despite not having previously occupied an elective government position. He argued that his long-standing activism and involvement in the struggle for democracy contributed to the political environment that enabled politicians such as Amaechi to attain public office.

Sowore maintained that if Nigeria had remained under military rule, Amaechi would not have had the opportunity to serve as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, governor or Minister of Transportation.

He further argued that leadership should not be judged solely by previous government appointments or professional qualifications, stressing that effective leaders must possess broad knowledge, vision and the ability to bring competent people together to solve national challenges.

The AAC presidential candidate also claimed that politicians who benefited from Nigeria’s democratic system should acknowledge the contributions of activists who fought for the restoration of democratic rule.

The dispute between Sowore and Amaechi began during the NBA conference after Sowore criticised the records of former public officials, including the former Rivers governor. He questioned the achievements of Amaechi’s administration in Rivers State and his performance as Transportation Minister, particularly regarding railway projects and the removal of fuel subsidy.

Amaechi rejected the criticism and highlighted projects executed during his tenure as governor, including roads and primary schools, while also referencing the Lagos-Ibadan and Abuja-Kaduna railway projects completed during his time as Transportation Minister.

The exchange became heated after Amaechi reportedly told Sowore to remain silent while politicians were speaking.

Sowore has since maintained his position on several economic policies, particularly the removal of petrol subsidy. He said he had warned against the policy before it was implemented, arguing that its consequences validated concerns he and others had previously raised.

He insisted that his years of activism had provided him with a different perspective on leadership and governance, adding that political experience should be measured not only by previous appointments but also by ideas, convictions, vision and commitment to national development.