Former Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, has dismissed claims by Chidi Wihioka that he denied Rivers people the opportunity to host the Dangote Refinery.
In a response sent to his ally and former National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New People’s Democratic Party (nPDP), Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, Amaechi clarified that Aliko Dangote had already begun constructing his refinery in Lagos before visiting Port Harcourt.
According to the former governor, Dangote’s visit to Rivers was to request land for a gas plant, not a refinery, as alleged by Wihioka.
“I never asked Dangote for anything. I gave him land opposite the Onne seaport. He had already commenced construction of the refinery in Lagos but wanted land for a gas plant,” Amaechi stated.
His remarks came after growing calls from Rivers elders, including Chief Bob Wali, urging him to respond to Wihioka’s accusation made on national television.
Wihioka, a former federal lawmaker, had alleged that Amaechi made personal demands from Dangote before approving land for the refinery, leading the businessman to abandon plans in Rivers State.
Amaechi, however, insisted that he willingly allocated land opposite the Onne Seaport for the proposed gas plant and never demanded anything from the billionaire. He added that Dangote simply never returned to execute the project.
