Amaechi Reflects on Political Rift with Lamido Over 2015 Elections

In a recently shared video on YouTube, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi opened up about the close relationship he once shared with former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, as well as the political fallout that drove them apart.

Amaechi recalled how their bond during their time in office was built on shared ideals and a mutual willingness to take bold political steps. He said he often relied on Lamido when it came to taking radical decisions, assuming they were aligned in their political convictions.

However, their unity began to crumble during the build-up to the 2015 presidential election. Amaechi explained that a group of governors, himself and Lamido included, had collectively decided to oppose then-President Goodluck Jonathan. In their effort to unseat Jonathan, the governors formed a committee to coordinate their political strategy.

Despite initially being on the same page, Lamido later chose a different path, opting to support the formation of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). This move caused a rift, as Amaechi and others felt that the SDP lacked the political strength needed to challenge the ruling party. They chose instead to remain with the All Progressives Congress (APC), believing it gave them a stronger chance of electoral success.

Reflecting on the split, Amaechi said:
“What I wanted to say about him will be cut short. We were quite good friends when we were in government. We had our bad times that we disagreed. I made the mistake of assuming that he was as radical as I was. So he was one of the governors I clung to when it came to radical decisions.”

He continued:
“I will tell you one of the things that happened during the course of our friendship. The last one before we broke ranks was when we agreed, all of us agreed to go against President Goodluck Jonathan, and we formed a committee of governors and others. At the end of the day, he went on to find a new party called the SDP. We said, ‘If we go to the new party called SDP, we will lose the election. Let’s hang on to this one called the APC.’ He disagreed and left us. That’s the only place we disagreed.”

Amaechi’s revelations provide fresh insight into the behind-the-scenes political maneuvering that led to the formation of the APC and the eventual defeat of the Jonathan-led government in 2015. His remarks also underscore how personal convictions and strategic differences can redefine long-standing political alliances.