A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has berated Tony Okocha over his recent comment against Chibuike Amaechi.
DAILY POST reported that Amaechi had in a recent public forum in Abuja, called on Nigerians to unite and work with a common resolve to retake power from corrupt politicians whose kleptomaniac grip on the common patrimony has reset and put the country on a downward trend.
Angered about the statement, Okocha claimed Amaechi failed to attract any developmental projects to the South-South region when he served as Minister.
Reacting through a statement made available to the media, Eze, a close ally to Amaechi and former National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New Peoples Democratic Party, nPDP, described Okocha as a valueless political tradesman who had lost his cognitives.
Eze said it was necessary to reply Okocha’s utterance just for clarity, stressing that Amaechi served all parts of the country equally as Minister and attracted several developmental projects to the South-South region contrary to Okocha’s unfounded claims.
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.”
APC crisis: ‘Amaechi not a failed minister’ – Eze replies Okocha
