Former National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New People’s Democratic Party (nPDP) and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has strongly dismissed allegations made by former federal lawmaker, Elder Chidi Wihioka, accusing former Rivers State Governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, of frustrating Aliko Dangote from siting his refinery in Rivers State.
Wihioka, in a recent media interview, alleged that Dangote had originally considered Rivers State for the multi-billion dollar refinery project but was discouraged after a poor reception from Amaechi, including a demand for personal benefits. According to him, this led Dangote to move the refinery to Lagos where he was given “everything free.”
Reacting in a statement on Friday, Chief Eze described Wihioka’s claims as “a cocktail of lies” and “blatant falsehood,” stressing that they expose the former lawmaker as a “shameless and chronic liar, valueless political merchant and viciously malevolent scoundrel with a penchant for brazen duplicity.”
Eze maintained that Dangote never had plans to establish a refinery in Rivers State, but had only discussed building a gas plant in Onne, for which Amaechi even promised infrastructural support to ensure its success. He said Wihioka was never present during the discussions with Dangote and therefore could not be privy to the details.
“Dangote paid millions of naira to acquire land in Lagos for the refinery project. The claims that he got everything free are false,” Eze stated.
The APC chieftain further argued that Amaechi’s tenure as Rivers governor was marked by significant economic progress, investment opportunities, and infrastructural development that transformed the state into “an investment haven” for both local and foreign businesses.
Eze accused Wihioka of betrayal, noting that Amaechi played a major role in his political rise but was later repaid with disloyalty when the ex-lawmaker aligned with political rivals.
He urged the public to disregard what he described as “a potpourri of falsehood” and assured that no amount of political propaganda would diminish Amaechi’s achievements or his relevance in Nigerian politics.
