The political crisis in Rivers State has escalated following accusations by Dr. George Nweke, a former Head of Service, that Governor Siminalayi Fubara orchestrated the 2023 bombing of the state House of Assembly. The allegations, made at a news briefing in Abuja, have sparked widespread reactions, with several groups condemning the claims and others expressing concern over the growing tension in the state.
Nweke accused Fubara of working with militants to prevent his impeachment by lawmakers loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. He also alleged that the governor was plotting to sabotage oil facilities using militant groups from Ijaw-speaking areas, aiming to destabilize the Federal Government.
“The governor has been meeting with militant leaders, and after those meetings, large sums of money exchanged hands,” Nweke claimed.
He further alleged that Fubara’s plan included attacks on Ogoni, Oyigbo, and other areas before eventually targeting Ijaw communities to create an impression of widespread unrest.
His accusations have ignited heated debates across Rivers State, with residents discussing the issue in commercial vehicles, markets, and neighborhoods. Many expressed fears that the deepening political conflict could further destabilize the state.
Ijaw National Congress Condemns Allegations
Reacting to the claims, the National Publicity Secretary of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Ezonebi Oyakemeagbegha, dismissed them as an attempt to blackmail the governor.
“These are all means to blackmail Fubara. It is clear that some people are being forced to say things they wouldn’t ordinarily say,” Oyakemeagbegha said.
He urged those behind the allegations to stop the smear campaign and allow the governor to focus on governance.
Rivers Elders Back Fubara
The Rivers State Elders and Leaders Council also rejected Nweke’s claims, insisting that he was acting under duress.
A pioneer spokesperson for the Pan Niger Delta Forum, Anabs Sara-Igbe, said, “The former Head of Service is not himself. His body language shows that he is speaking under pressure. Some of the things he said are outright lies.”
Another respected elder, Ann Kio-Briggs, also supported the governor, saying, “You see a man clearly under stress, trying to read what was written for him. This is nothing but a desperate blackmail attempt.”
Pro-Fubara PDP Disagrees with Nweke
The faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State loyal to Governor Fubara also refuted the allegations. The faction’s chairman, Dr. Robinson Ewhor, described Nweke’s claims as “a lie from the pit of hell.”
Ewhor said, “This is a well-planned campaign of calumny against the governor. They want to make President Tinubu lose confidence in him, but we stand firmly with our governor.”
He also dismissed claims that Fubara held secret meetings with Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, calling them fabricated lies meant to tarnish the governor’s image.
NLC Condemns Allegations
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Rivers State also rejected Nweke’s accusations, calling them baseless and misleading.
“It is highly irresponsible and mischievous for Dr. Nweke to insinuate that the labour leadership has been compromised,” the NLC said in a statement.
The statement further dismissed claims that the state NLC chairman, Alex Agwanwor, had received financial inducements from the governor.
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Concerned Omuma Leaders Distance Themselves from Nweke
Leaders from Omuma Local Government Area, where Nweke hails from, have distanced themselves from his allegations against Fubara.
“We never imagined it would escalate to this level, where blatant falsehoods are being peddled against an innocent man,” said Maximus Nwafor, leader of the Concerned Omuma Stakeholders.
He reaffirmed their support for Fubara, describing the allegations as “false and baseless.”
Amaechi: Fubara and Wike Fighting Over Money
Former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi weighed in on the crisis, claiming that the feud between Fubara and Wike was about money-sharing.
“The fight between the former governor of Rivers State and the current governor is about sharing money. Nigerians are no longer outraged by corruption. If both of them tell us the real reason for their dispute, people will be shocked” Amaechi told DW in an interview.
Amaechi also criticized the emergency rule imposed on the state, calling it unconstitutional.
Bauchi PDP Slams Nweke
The Bauchi State chapter of the PDP dismissed Nweke’s claim that Governor Bala Mohammed was involved in Fubara’s political struggles.
“Who is Nweke, as a Head of Service, to know the political movements of a governor?” asked Dayyabu Ciroma, the PDP’s publicity secretary in Bauchi.
He added, “This is just another attempt at blackmail because they know Fubara is temporarily not in control of the state.”
Wike’s Camp Calls Fubara a Betrayer
Lere Olayinka, spokesperson for Nyesom Wike, responded to the crisis by calling Fubara a betrayer.
“If Fubara, who betrayed someone, has now been betrayed, they should deal with it,” Olayinka said.
With the political battle in Rivers State intensifying, analysts believe the situation may worsen if urgent steps are not taken to resolve the conflict. Many citizens are calling for dialogue to prevent further instability in the state.