Dr. George Nwaeke, the recently resigned Head of the Rivers State Civil Service, has made a stunning accusation against suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
According to Nwaeke, Fubara orchestrated the 2023 bombing of the State House of Assembly complex to prevent his impeachment by lawmakers loyal to Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
However, Fubara has vehemently denied the allegation, urging Nigerians to disregard it.
Nwaeke, who recently stepped down as HoS, said this during a media briefing on Friday.
He alleged that he personally witnessed a bag of money being handed over to Edison Ehie, a former leader of the Assembly who later became Fubara’s Chief of Staff, with instructions to orchestrate an attack on the Assembly Complex located on Moscow Road in Port Harcourt.
He said: “First, it all started with the Rivers State House of Assembly, where Governor Siminalayi Fubara directed his Chief of Staff (Edison Ehie) to burn down the Assembly 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.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 the people of Rivers State today that the House of Assembly Complex on Moscow Road was deliberately brought down by Edison Ehie under the instructions of Governor Siminalayi Fubara. I challenge him to an open confrontation, and I will provide more details.
“A day after that incident, I almost resigned, but I was very scared because I knew the power of a sitting governor. He knew that I was aware of the whole plan and that I was uncomfortable with the unconscionable act and his deliberate posture of innocence.
“Another attempt was also made to destroy the residential quarters of the House of Assembly members. If not for the press conference held there by Rivers youths, Rivers elders, and National Assembly members, that would have been another barbaric demolition in Rivers State.
“I realised that they actually wanted to demolish that second building because, weeks later, he personally told me that if he had known earlier, he would have pulled down their hall before targeting the residential quarters of the Assembly. He didn’t realise they had such a beautiful hall where they are now holding their sittings.
“I was shocked and asked myself: how could a man who wants to lead his people be destroying state assets and wasting public funds on a needless ego fight?”
Nwaeke clarified that his resignation was a voluntary decision, dispelling speculation that he was either sacked or coerced into stepping down.
He said: “With the load of misinformation in print and electronic media, I have chosen to set the record straight.
“I was not sacked, nor was I pressured to resign; I did it willingly from the depth of my heart.”
Nwaeke further alleged that a second attempt to destroy the residential quarters of the House of Assembly members was made, but was ultimately foiled by a timely press conference organized by Rivers youths, elders, and National Assembly members.
According to him, Fubara had openly expressed a desire to demolish more state property, raising concerns about his leadership style.
Nwaeke alleged that Fubara made comments about leveraging the Ijaw people’s influence to control Nigeria’s presidency, specifically mentioning the strategic control of oil pipelines and the potential for disruptions.
He stressed the need for the state’s Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), to “step up his guards and be very vigilant, because I am aware of the sinister arrangement and dastardly plans to continue to hatch their plans if not put in check.”
The ex-HoS said: “This accounts for the organised media condemnations and seeming public outcry against Mr. President and National Assembly.
“Those who love democracy and humanity will always protect humanity and democracy. Mr. President, you have just protected democracy and humanity in Rivers State. I can now sleep with my conscience clear.”
Responding to the allegations, the governor vehemently denied them and urged Nigerians to dismiss the claims as baseless.
Fubara described Nwaeke’s allegations as “laughable” in a statement he personally signed on Friday.
He said: “The truth is that 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.
“I call 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.”
Persecondnews had reported that the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex was demolished on December 13, 2023.
The complex was demolished under tight security approximately two months after a devastating fire had ravaged the facility.
The demolition exercise commenced at about 6:45am, allegedly led by the state governor, who headed a convoy of around 10 bulldozers transported on heavy-duty flatbed lorries into the Assembly premises.
Reacting to the demolition, the Rivers State Government explained that the renovation of the State House of Assembly Complex was undertaken based on the advice of consultants, who had deemed the building uninhabitable.
The government explained that the decision to demolish and restructure the building was prompted by the recent fire that ravaged the chamber and the need to reinforce the aging complex.
The Commissioner for Information, Joe Johnson, provided clarification on the matter during the presentation of the 2024 budget at the Government House in Port Harcourt.
He stated that the government aims to expedite the renovation process, giving it top priority.
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