The political atmosphere in Abuja took a sharp turn on Tuesday as Senator Adams Oshiomhole used a public platform to deliver a stinging critique of former Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi. The occasion was a colloquium held in honor of Hadiza Bala-Usman’s 50th birthday, a woman who currently serves as the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination but whose past tenure at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) remains a subject of intense political debate.
The tension between the two political heavyweights traces back to 2021 when Amaechi, acting as the then-Minister of Transportation under the Buhari administration, pushed for the suspension of Bala-Usman. At the time, Amaechi claimed he had been sidelined from the decision-making process at the NPA and insisted that an investigation into the authority’s activities was necessary. He famously argued that the ministry lacked proper oversight, suggesting the agency had become a law unto itself.
Fast forward to the present, and the rivalry seems to have only intensified. Oshiomhole took the stage at the birthday event to launch a spirited defense of the celebrant while taking aim at her former boss. Although he did not mention Amaechi by name, his references to “people drunk with power” who tried to “rubbish” Bala-Usman’s reputation were seen by everyone in attendance as a direct shot at the former Rivers State Governor.
Oshiomhole’s remarks were particularly biting as he referenced Amaechi’s own recent public comments. Just last year, during his 60th birthday, Amaechi had made headlines by declaring that he and many Nigerians were “hungry,” calling for opposition forces to unite against the current administration. Seizing on this, Oshiomhole told the audience that those who tried to destroy Bala-Usman’s family name ended up disgracing themselves and are now the ones complaining of hunger.
In a moment that stunned some guests, the former Edo State Governor added a harsh spiritual twist to his critique, stating that he prayed such “hunger” would follow these individuals until they finally meet their creator. The room was reportedly thick with tension as Oshiomhole contrasted Bala-Usman’s current high-ranking role in the Tinubu administration with the perceived political isolation of her former detractors.
As of the time of this report, Rotimi Amaechi has not issued a statement or a rebuttal to the Senator’s comments. This latest exchange highlights the deep-seated divisions that remain among the key players of the previous administration, as past professional disputes continue to bleed into the current political landscape.
