Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, a leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, has chastised Tony Okocha for his recent remarks disparaging Chibuike Amaechi.
According to reports, during a recent public discussion in Abuja, Amaechi urged Nigerians to band together and work together to unseat dishonest politicians whose kleptomaniac hold on the nation’s wealth has reset it and sent it in a downward trajectory.
Outraged by the remark, Okocha asserted that throughout his tenure as Minister, Amaechi was unable to bring any development projects to the South-South zone.
Eze, a close associate of Amaechi and the former National Publicity Secretary of the now-defunct New Peoples Democratic Party, or nPDP, responded by calling Okocha a worthless political trader who had lost his mind in a statement released to the media.
Eze stated that in order to provide clarity, it was important to respond to Okocha’s statement. He emphasized that, in contrast to Okocha’s baseless accusations, Amaechi served all regions of the nation equally as Minister and brought numerous development projects to the South-South region.
He said, “For the records, Amaechi pushed for the construction of the 39km Bonny Bodo road and its two creek bridges, including the bridge over Opobo channel at a whopping sum of 120 billion naira. This gigantic bridge is comparable only to the 2nd Niger bridge project.
“The Port Harcourt International Airport that was described as one of the worst airports in the entire world, whose renovation was frustrated by the PDP Government when Wike was a Minister, stands today as one of the best airports. The turnaround happened under Amaechi as substantive Minister of Transportation.
“The Soku Oil well supported by Wike to be ceded to Bayelsa was returned to Rivers State.
“The Ogoni Cleanup exercise which was described as impossible by the PDP administration where Wike served as junior Minister is currently in progress when Amaechi was a Minister
“With the influence of Amaechi, the East West Road abandoned by the PDP administration received attention.
“Under Amaechi, Cargo ships now berth in Onne Port, thereby increasing economic activities in the state, shoring up the state’s revenue and creating more employment for Rivers people.
“The Port Harcourt to Maiduguri rail line which is ongoing is credited to Amaechi. The Calabar through Port Harcourt to Lagos rail line is also on course. It was designed under Amaechi.
“Amaechi as the Minister of Transposition influenced the setting up of the Maritime University in Oron, where many Nigerians, including Rivers’ sons and daughters were employed.
“As Minister, Amaechi influenced the setting up of the Naval Intelligence and Logistics College at Ubima.
Bonny and Warri deep sea ports were birthed under Amaechi.
“The Ajaojuta-Itakpe-Warri rail line covering about 320km and cutting across the entire Niger Delta was commissioned in 2020, with hundreds of Rivers State sons and daughters employed.
“Amaechi as Transportation Minister dredged ports channels and today the Port Harcourt port is alive. It was confirmed that cargo landing at Port Harcourt increased by 50%.
“As Minister, the former Governor facilitated the refund of N79 billion to Rivers State from federal projects executed under him as Governor and lots more.
“Okocha is asking that Amaechi should name one project he executed while as a Super Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Apart from all the above feats, Amaechi as an influential Minister under the administration of President Buhari influenced over 15 crucial projects scattered all over the South South region, let alone thousands of South South people he ensured of their appointments into various Federal Government Agencies.”
