A prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State and close ally of former Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has strongly defended Amaechi, who has recently come under verbal attacks from key members of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Eze condemned the recent warning issued by the Minister of Defence (State), Dr. Bello Muhammed Matawalle, to Amaechi following his controversial remarks that Nigerian politicians must “steal, maim, and kill” to remain in power. Eze called the warning baseless and misguided, urging Matawalle to shift his focus to addressing the country’s security challenges rather than issuing empty threats.
Matawalle’s warning came in response to a statement made by Amaechi during a conference on strengthening democracy in Nigeria, organized by the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy, and Development in Abuja. In his speech, Amaechi pointed out that Nigerian politicians continue to engage in corrupt practices because of the apathy and lack of collective action among Nigerians to defend their votes.
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In his response, Matawalle described Amaechi’s remarks as “inflammatory,” warning that such comments were reckless and dangerous, especially at a time when the government is working to consolidate national unity and security. He further emphasized that anyone found inciting violence would face the full force of the law.
However, Chief Eze dismissed Matawalle’s warning as misguided and criticized him for attempting to stifle legitimate criticism. Eze argued that rather than issuing warnings, Matawalle should focus on tackling the security crisis in the country, particularly in the North-West, which has been plagued by banditry and terrorism.
Eze also reminded Matawalle of the foundational role that Amaechi and other progressives played in the formation of the APC, stressing that without their vision and sacrifices, the party would not have existed. He described Matawalle as an opportunist who is enjoying the benefits of the APC without understanding its origins or the struggles that brought it into existence.
The APC chieftain also criticized the current state of security in the country, particularly under Matawalle’s watch as Defence Minister. He pointed to the ongoing banditry and kidnapping in Zamfara State, Matawalle’s home state, as a clear indication of the government’s failure to address the country’s security crisis.
Eze concluded by calling on the government to focus on addressing the real issues facing Nigerians, including insecurity, rather than attempting to silence those who voice their concerns about the state of governance in the country.
