Emergency Rule Saved Rivers, Fubara Orchestrated All Crises, Says Ex-Head Of Service, As Suspended Governor Reacts

By Daniel Dafe

The immediate-past Head of the Civil Service in Rivers State, Dr. George Nweke, has revealed that the decision of President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency saved the people of the State from anarchy.

Addressing journalists in Port Harcourt, the state capital on Friday, Nweke revealed that the suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara was behind the crisis in the State by orchestrating destruction of public buildings and other sinister motives.

He, however, noted that he was neither sacked nor was pressured to resign as Head of Service of Rivers State.

He thanked Tinubu for his swift intervention in the state’a political crisis, especially on the declaration of emergency rule in the State, which has been ratified by the National Assembly.

The former Head of Service said: “My dear People of Rivers state, it is with humility and every sense of responsibility that I stand to address you today as your former Head of Service.

“You would recall that I was appointed as the Head of Service by our suspended governor, Siminalayi Fubara. Let me also use this opportunity to appreciate him for giving me the opportunity to serve as the Head of Service. With the loads of misinformation on print and electronic media, I have chosen to put the record straight, I was not sacked neither was I pressured to resign, I did it willingly from the depth of my heart.

“However as an insider and a key player in this administration by my position, who worked closely with Siminalayi Fubara, it will be unfair for me to keep silent or not to address some key factors that has affected or will affect our state if we continue on this trajectory.

“I want to use this medium to thank Mr. President for a swift intervention in Rivers State crisis, especially on the state of emergency that was declared and assented to by the National Assembly.

“You will recall that when the governor was suspended, as the Head of Service, I was the next in command, so I am not speaking from outside, I am speaking as an insider. If not for the intervention of Mr. President, Nigeria would have faced the worst economic sabotage and Rivers State would have been up in flames.

“First, it all started with the Rivers State House of Assembly where the Governor, Siminilayi Fubara directed his Chief of Staff (Edison Ehie) to burn down the Assembly in a way to avert his impeachment, that evening Edison was in Government House with two other boys, including the former chairman of Obio/Akpor LGA, one Chijioke.

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“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 Rivers people today that the House of Assembly complex in Moscow Road was clearly brought down by Edison Ehie under the instructions of Governor Siminilayi Fubara, I challenge him to an open confrontation and I will throw more light on it.

“A day after that incident, I almost resigned but I was very scared because I know the power of a sitting governor and he knew that I am aware of the whole plan and that I am discomforted with the unconscionable act and deliberate posture of innocence and mien of a sheep.

“Another attempt was also made to destroy the residential quarters of the House of Assembly members if not for the press conference that was made there by Rivers youths, Rivers elders and National Assembly members, that would have been another barbaric demolition in Rivers State.

“I came to realise that they actually wanted to demolish that second building because after some weeks, he personally told me that if he knew early he would have gone to pull down their hall before visiting the residential quarters of the Assembly and that he didn’t actually know that they had such a beautiful hall were they are using now for their sitting.

Meanwhile, Fubara described Nwaeke’s claims as false, saying he should be ignored.

In his words, “ordinarily, I would not have responded to his claims, but to correct the erroneous impression such allegations may create in the minds of the people, and the disaffection it is bound to cause in the state and the country.”

On the claim that Nwaeke was aware of his discussions and plans to support Bala Mohammed’s alleged 2027 presidential bid, he said: “it is laughable that Dr. Nwaeke would be part of any high level political meeting as Head of Service, much more sitting in my alleged night meetings with Bala Mohammed and militants like he claimed,” just as he said that “none of such meetings ever held.”

He continued: “The truth is that the whole world knew when the Bauchi State Governor, as Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party Governors Forum visited the State, and there was nothing secret about the visits.

“It is also ludicrous for Dr. Nwaeke to claim that he was aware of my meetings to encourage attacks on oil pipelines and other National assets in the State, as there was no time I held any meeting with militants or any criminal group to destabilise the State. It is on record that I have been at the forefront preaching peace in the State even in the face of obvious provocations.”

According to Fubara, “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.”

He called 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 by Mr. President.”