Rivers Crisis: PDP Demands Proof, As APC Insists On Thorough Probe Over Allegations Against Fubara

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State have expressed divergent views on the weighty allegations levelled against the suspended Governor of the state, Siminalayi Fubara.

DAILY POST recalls that the former Head of Service in Rivers State, Dr George Nwaeke escalated the political tension in the state on Saturday after reeling out allegations against the embattled governor.

Nwaeke, who recently resigned from Fubara’s government, alleged that the governor orchestrated the bombing of the State House of Assembly complex in 2023 to prevent his impeachment by lawmakers loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

The former Head of Service claimed to have witnessed a bag of money being handed over to a former leader of the Assembly, who later became Fubara’s Chief of Staff, Edison Ehie, to attack the Assembly Complex situated along Moscow Road, Port Harcourt.

Nwaeke also alleged that Governor Fubara was planning to bomb oil facilities in the Niger Delta in a bid to get President Bola Tinubu-led administration tainted.

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 claimed that Governor Fubara’s plan was to start from “non-Ijaw speaking areas to destroy oil facilities“, stating that the move was to “remove attention from the Ijaw and make it have a statewide look”.

Nwaeke further alleged a secret meeting between Fubara and some national opposition figures to support a Northern candidate, possibly Bala Mohammed for the 2027 election.

This is even as Nwaeke’s wife, Mrs Florence Nwaeke also called for help, claiming that her husband was in trouble.

Speaking to journalists shortly after her husband’s outburst, Mrs Florence expressed fears for Nwaeke’s safety, stating that he could be under duress to make the allegations.

The allegations stirred a serious political debate as Fubara and Wike’s supporters clashed online.

In separate interviews with DAILY POST, weekend, the public secretary of the PDP, Sydney Gbara and his APC counterpart, Ikenga Chibike gave conflicting views on the matter.

Nwaeke should show proof of allegations, he has been used – PDP

Sydney Gbara told DAILY POST that the allegations levelled against Fubara by Nwaeke were politically motivated.

The PDP spokesman, who urged the former HoS to substantiate his claims by publishing poofs, said Nwaeke was only being used by Fubara’s enemies to further cripple the suspended governor.

He said, “Rivers State is currently going through a turbulence 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 feel 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

On his part, the spokesman of the Chief Tony Okocha-led APC, Ikenga Chibike said the allegations were too weighty to be ignored, urging the security agencies to “do the needful”.

According to him, the former HoS was privy to Governor Fubara’s political functions and may have some facts as claimed in his allegations.

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”.

Meanwhile, the governor has since dismissed the allegations, stating that Nwaeke has been compromised.