How Amaechi’s lawyer of so many years made Tinubu’s ministerial list
By PHC Telegraph
Lateef Fagbemi, SANChibuike Rotimi Amaechi aka CRA may not have made any significant input towards the compilation of the new ministerial list that is now before the Senate.
This may be as a result of his famed disagreement which exists between him and the eventual winner of the 2023 Presidential Election, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Tinubu had won the APC’s National Convention much to the consternation of the former Minister of Transportation, who until a great majority of his party men made their pick that night, was believed to be the favourite of the outgone President, General Muhammadu Buhari.
On the road to the Convention the story was that Nasir El-Rufai, Governor of Kaduna State and a prominent loyalist of President Buhari would be Amaechi’s running mate.
Amaechi who resigned his position as Minister of Transportation lost big time against the better prepared Asiwaju who was ready to take on the whole world instead of giving up what he described as his turn.
Despite Asiwaju’s visit to Amaechi’s Abuja home after the National Convention, both men did not seem to get on well.
Somehow, Amaechi’s lawyer of several years has emerged on the ministerial list submitted by the President.
The lawyer, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, who made a surprise appearance on the list which has Senator Dave Umahi, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike of Rivers State as nominees is among one of those in APC circles who are currently being accused of betrayal.
From the time Fagbemi successfully defended Amaechi in the Omehia case in 2007, he has emerged as a member of the inner circle of the former Rivers Governor, offering legal advice, fighting cases in court and fixing things.
It is not known at what point Fagbemi left Rotimi Amaechi or what could have been largely responsible for the break in transmission.
Many think Fagbemi, a clinical lawyer, might eventually emerge as the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation.
Incidentally, Fagbemi is not a politician. His only known business is the business of law.
Meanwhile, there is celebration in Rivers following the emergence of the former Governor of Rivers State as the nominee.
A fierce battle to stop Wike from making the list had been fought by a faction of the APC led by Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi and Tonye Cole.
Whereas the faction of the party led by Tony Okocha insisted Wike had done enough to be listed as a minister, the Amaechi faction stressed there was no way Tinubu could look outside the party in making his choice.
As things are, Wike has again triumphed while supporters of Amaechi and those who follow Senator Magnus Abe stare in unbelief.
Most in the Abe and Amaechi camps are blaming Okocha. Okocha in the name of the APC in Rivers State had canvassed for the ministerial ticket in Rivers State to be ceded to Wike.
With Abe’s camp, a little glimmer of hope that Abe will be on the list of 13 that is being expected.
Abe’s supporters say it was Abe who set up structures for Tinubu. When the chips were down, many in Rivers State agree that it was Wike who delivered Victory to Tinubu and the APC.