Former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, has clarified reports regarding a purported meeting between opposition figures and American officials ahead of the 2015 elections. He insisted that the engagement was solely aimed at advocating for a free, fair, and violence-free poll—contrary to claims that the opposition lobbied the U.S. to help unseat former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Speaking at the National Conference of Editors in Abuja on Wednesday, Amaechi dismissed allegations of secret meetings abroad.
According to him, “There have been talks about some clandestine meetings in America. No, there was no meeting in America like that. There was just one meeting, and we were invited. The Americans simply said they did not want violence during the elections and asked that we ensure peace.”
The former governor, who later served in the administration of the late President Muhammadu Buhari, also criticized the state of journalism in Nigeria’s democratic era. He suggested that journalists were more courageous under military rule than they are today.
He said:
“I have friends who are editors. I asked them, are these not the same people that fought with us back then? What has changed? Under the military, journalists were bold. Today, many are silent.”
Amaechi attributed this “silence” partly to self-interest and partly to ethnic loyalty.
He said the “bigger pot” under democratic rule has made many journalists reluctant to challenge those in power, adding:
“Nobody wants to write against their brother. Even when he is a bad leader, he is defended because of ethnicity.”
He further argued that Nigerians often tolerate bad governance only when the leader belongs to their ethnic group.
Amaechi stressed the need for a nation where citizens can live and thrive anywhere without discrimination:
“Nigeria becomes a real country when anyone can survive in any part of it when you can buy land in Port Harcourt or Lagos and be safe.”
On insecurity, he blamed systemic poverty and lack of opportunity, noting that people resort to crime when they lack legitimate means of survival
In a separate development, Dr. Joe Onoh urged President Bola Tinubu not to allow “any individual, however powerful,” to undermine national security or influence public opinion through “false narratives.”
Onoh called for a thorough investigation into Sheikh Ahmad Gumi’s activities, accusing him of defending armed criminals under the guise of religion.
According to Onoh:
“Our sovereignty is under assault—not only from armed criminals but from those who use religion and propaganda to defend them. Mr President must act decisively.”
He argued that voices like Gumi’s are sabotaging the Renewed Hope agenda by stoking ethnic and religious tensions for personal gain.
Onoh warned that such actions can no longer be tolerated “in a nation fighting for survival.”
