The immediate past Rivers State Head of Service, George Nwaeke, has accused suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara of masterminding the bombing of the Rivers State House of Assembly complex in Port Harcourt to prevent his impeachment.
Nwaeke, once considered an ally of Fubara, claimed in a televised interview on Friday night that the governor instructed his Chief of Staff, Edison Ehie, to carry out the attack.
According to him, the governor feared impeachment by 27 lawmakers and, as a result, allegedly ordered the destruction of the Assembly complex.
“It all started with the State House of Assembly, where the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, directed his Chief of Staff to burn down the Assembly in a bid to avert his suspected impeachment,” Nwaeke alleged.
He further claimed he was present when a bag of money was handed over to Edison for the operation. “That evening, Edison was in Government House with many of his boys, including the former chairman of Obio/Akpor, Mr. Chijioke Ihunwo. I was there with them when a bag of money was handed over to Edison for that operation,” he stated.
He maintained that his revelation was made voluntarily and not under duress, adding that he was never pressured to resign.
Meanwhile, Nwaeke urged the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) to call its Rivers State chairman to order, warning against partisan influence.
“I am privy to several private meetings between the Governor and the Labour leader in the state and the largesse that accompanied each meeting to compromise the Labour Union,” he alleged.
In a separate development, the Rivers State Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), has approved the immediate payment of salaries for civil servants, pensioners, and suspended political appointees in the state.
A statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Ibibia Worika, confirmed that the payments were for March 2025.
Additionally, Ibas has directed security agencies to collaborate with his administration to maintain law and order, emphasizing the need to prevent any breakdown of security.
He made the call during a meeting with paramilitary leaders at Government House, Port Harcourt, stressing that a peaceful environment was crucial for development.
“If you have people who are unable to conduct their legitimate business due to insecurity, criminals take over. I will, therefore, be needing you in all aspects of maintaining law and order,” he stated.
Ibas also directed security agencies to intensify patrols and enforce traffic regulations, particularly addressing vehicles without registered plate numbers and overturned tankers obstructing roads.
“Our efforts must ensure the reduction of insecurity. There is a need for collaboration and intelligence sharing with federal security agencies,” he added.
PDP Professionals, Rivers Women Condemn Administrator’s Appointment
Meanwhile, the Conference of Professionals in the Peoples Democratic Party (CP-PDP) has warned Vice Admiral Ibas to refrain from managing Rivers State’s statutory allocations and funds.
In a statement, CP-PDP Chairman Obinna Nwachukwu argued that the administrator’s appointment was unconstitutional, citing Sections 120 and 121 of the 1999 Constitution, which reserve financial appropriation powers for a democratically elected governor and legislature.
“Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd) must note that no provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria grants him the power to appropriate or disburse Rivers State’s funds under any circumstance,” the statement read.
The group maintained that Ibas’ appointment remains illegal despite the National Assembly’s endorsement, emphasizing that the 1999 Constitution only vests executive powers in a democratically elected governor.
Similarly, hundreds of women under the aegis of Rivers Women Unite for Sim (RWUS) gathered in Port Harcourt on Friday, clad in black attire, to pray for divine intervention over the state’s political crisis.
Activist Ankio Briggs described the ongoing situation as a struggle for the control of Rivers State’s political and economic power, warning that it could have wider implications for the Niger Delta region.
“What is happening in Rivers State is not just about political disagreements; it is a battle between those who want to take control of the state’s political and economic power,” she said.
Legal practitioner Adata Bio-Briggs also condemned the administrator’s appointment, asserting that a state of emergency was unnecessary as Rivers State remained peaceful.
“We don’t have ethnic conflicts or war. Have they asked what the people want? Rivers people want our governor back, and we want the state of emergency lifted,” she stated.
The women urged President Bola Tinubu to revoke Fubara’s suspension and reinstate other affected political officeholders.
As the political crisis continues, Rivers State remains at the center of intense debate over constitutional authority, governance, and security concerns.
