The former Head of the Rivers State Civil Service, Dr. George Nwaeke, has accused suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara of orchestrating the bombing of the state House of Assembly complex in 2023.
The alleged act, according to Nwaeke, was intended to prevent Fubara’s impeachment by lawmakers loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Governor Fubara has, however, vehemently denied the allegations, dismissing them as baseless and urging Nigerians to disregard them.
Dr. Nwaeke, who recently resigned from his position, made the accusations during a press briefing on Friday. He claimed to have personally witnessed the handing over of a bag of money to a former leader of the House of Assembly, Edison Ehie, who later became Fubara’s Chief of Staff.
According to Nwaeke, the money was allegedly meant to facilitate the attack on the Assembly Complex located on Moscow Road, Port Harcourt.
“First, it all started with the Rivers State House of Assembly, where Governor Siminalayi Fubara directed his Chief of Staff, Edison Ehie, to burn down the Assembly to avert his impeachment. That evening, Edison was in Government House with two other individuals, including the former Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, one Chijioke,” Nwaeke recounted.
“I was there with them when a bag of money was handed over to Edison for that operation, though I do not know the amount inside. I want to tell the people of Rivers State today that the House of Assembly Complex on Moscow Road was deliberately brought down by Edison Ehie under the instructions of Governor Siminalayi Fubara. I challenge him to an open confrontation, and I will provide more details.”
Nwaeke further alleged that another attempt was made to destroy the residential quarters of House of Assembly members. According to him, this plan was thwarted by a press conference held at the site by concerned Rivers youths, elders, and members of the National Assembly.
Expressing his dismay over the governor’s alleged actions, Nwaeke said, “I was shocked and asked myself: how could a man who wants to lead his people be destroying state assets and wasting public funds on a needless ego fight?”
He also claimed that Governor Fubara had privately expressed intentions to demolish more state properties, including the Assembly members’ residential quarters.
“I realised that they actually wanted to demolish that second building because, weeks later, he personally told me that if he had known earlier, he would have pulled down their hall before targeting the residential quarters of the Assembly. He didn’t realise they had such a beautiful hall where they are now holding their sittings,” Nwaeke stated.
Addressing speculation regarding his departure from office, Nwaeke clarified that he resigned voluntarily and was neither dismissed nor pressured to leave.
“With the load of misinformation in print and electronic media, I have chosen to set the record straight. I was not sacked, nor was I pressured to resign; I did it willingly from the depth of my heart,” he asserted.
Governor Fubara has strongly refuted the accusations, labeling them as politically motivated fabrications. In a statement he personally signed on Friday, Fubara described Nwaeke’s claims as “laughable.”
“The truth is that Dr. Nwaeke has been compromised, and whatever he is saying is only aimed at fulfilling his promise to those who may have paid or coerced him to lie against me,” the governor stated.
“I call on all well-meaning Nigerians and the good people of Rivers State to disregard everything said by Dr. Nwaeke as they are mere desperate attempts to discredit me and my administration, and undermine the peace process initiated by Mr. President.”
The accusations and counterclaims have further deepened the political crisis in Rivers State, intensifying the power struggle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor-turned-political rival, Nyesom Wike. As tensions rise, the people of Rivers State remain caught in the crossfire, uncertain about the future of their leadership and governance.
Source: Ripples Nigeria
