The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State have voiced differing opinions regarding the serious accusations made against Siminalayi Fubara, the state’s suspended governor.
The Intercept notes that Dr. George Nwaeke, the former head of service in Rivers State, recently resigned from Fubara’s administration.
He, also made accusations against the troubled governor on Saturday, claiming that the governor planned the bombing of the State House of Assembly complex in 2023 to stop lawmakers loyal to Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, from impeaching him.
The former Head of Service said he saw a bag of cash given to Edison Ehie, a former Assembly leader who later became Fubara’s Chief of Staff, so that he could attack the Assembly Complex on Moscow Road in Port Harcourt.
Nwaeke also said that Governor Fubara was preparing to bomb oil facilities in the Niger Delta in an attempt to discredit the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
According to Nwaeke, Fubara “clearly” told him “that he is the chief security officer of Rivers State and his brother is in charge of Bayelsa State, and all the pipelines are under their care; that at the appropriate time, they would tell the boys what to do, and the fund was not an issue.
“That was why when he made that statement in his public function that ‘I will tell the boys what to do at the appropriate time’ I knew something was up and perhaps the time was near”.
He asserted that in order to “remove attention from the Ijaw and make it have a statewide look,” Governor Fubara’s strategy was to begin by destroying oil infrastructure in “non-Ijaw speaking areas.”
Nwaeke also claimed that Fubara met in secret with several national opposition leaders to back a Northern candidate for the 2027 election, maybe Bala Mohammed.
At the same time, Mrs. Florence Nwaeke, Nwaeke’s wife, also asked for assistance, saying her husband was having problems.
Mrs. Florence voiced concerns for Nwaeke’s safety in interviews with reporters soon after her husband’s tirade, claiming that he could have been coerced into making the accusations.
As a result of the accusations, there was a heated online dispute between Fubara and Wike’s fans.
Sydney Gbara, the public secretary for the PDP, and Ikenga Chibike, the public secretary for the APC, had divergent opinions on the subject in separate interviews with The Intercept over the weekend.
Nwaeke should show proof of allegations he has been used – PDP
Sydney Gbara told The Intercept that Nwaeke’s accusations against Fubara were made for political reasons.
Nwaeke was being exploited by Fubara’s opponents to further harm the suspended governor, the PDP spokesperson claimed, urging the former HoS to publish poofs to support his assertions.
He said, “Rivers State is currently going through a turbulent and trying time. Politics has been taken off limits to nearly everything, even up to how we breathe in and out. Everything in Rivers State has been politicized.
“Ordinarily, one could ask why and how a man, who served in the government as Head of Service, could say all these.
“He was due to serve as Head of Service under Wike, but Wike refused to pick him and appointed someone else.
“He had retired and was no longer in active service when Governor Fubara felt he wasn’t given the opportunity he deserved to serve in that high capacity. The governor now appointed him, but this is the way he is telling the governor ‘thank you’.
“It was so shocking seeing him coming to give such allegations. I think there is a sinister plot to victimize innocent citizens.
“They are after everyone that they feel is strong in Fubara’s government. They want to implicate everyone, including the governor.
“He was in the government when all that he alleged happened. Why didn’t he resign that time if what he is saying is true?
“You were there without any complaints until you felt like the man’s end has come politically and then you stand up to tell such allegations.
“He has carried out three press conferences in less than 12 hours just to see how he can damage-control the mess that he has put himself.
“He should go ahead and bring the proof to tell the world that he can substantiate the claims. It is the height of desperation that is being demonstrated here.
“We are not bothered about such outbursts because we know it has not taken him anywhere. They have used him for what they want to achieve and that is the end of him. They are not going to take him seriously”.
We’re worried; the allegations must be taken seriously and investigated – APC
Ikenga Chibike, the spokesperson for the APC, which is led by Chief Tony Okocha, stated that the accusations were too serious to be disregarded and urged the security services to “take the necessary action.”
He asserts that the former HoS may have some facts as stated in his accusations and was aware of Governor Fubara’s political activities.
He said, “The allegations are very embarrassing. We all understand that the Head of Service is a member of the State Executive Council he is a critical stakeholder and a top echelon in the Rivers State government.
“All the allegations he made must be taken seriously and considered to ascertain to what extent it happened.
“Nwaeke is someone we know as a responsible man. We believe that he cannot just come on air to make frivolous allegations. We are concerned, worried and troubled at the shocking revelation.
“We think that the security agencies should do the needful by investigating the allegations”.
