Following revelations by the former Rivers State Head of Service (HoS), George Nwaeke, claiming that the suspended governor, Siminalayi Fubara, ordered the bombing of the state assembly complex, among others, his wife has raised the alarm over the former HoS’ whereabouts.
Earlier, Nwaeke, in a video press conference, claimed to be an eyewitness to the actions taken by Fubara, including the alleged plan to ruin President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid.
According to him, the suspended governor ordered the destruction of the state assembly allegedly using his chief of staff, Edison Ehie.
Giving reason for his resignation, Nwaeke explained that he was neither pressured nor threatened, rather “willingly from the depth of my heart.”
The former HoS, who was appointed by Fubara, stated that as an insider in the government, “the loads of misinformation on print and electronic media” prompted him to set the record straight.
“However, as an insider and a key player in this administration by my position, who worked closely with Siminilayi 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,” he said.
Speaking on the emergency rule declaration, Nwaeke thanked the President, describing it as “a swift intervention in the Rivers State crisis,” adding that the state would have been up in flames while Nigeria faced economic sabotage.
He added, “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.”
On the alleged bombing of the state assembly complex, the former HoS said he was in the government house when the order was given.
“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. 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,” Nwaeke further said.
On the alleged plot against Tinubu’s re-election, Nwaeke claimed that that suspended governor Fubara personally boasted to him of being the chief security officer of Rivers state while his brother is in Bayelsa, “and all the pipelines are under their care; that at the appropriate time, they would tell the boys what to do, and fund was not an issue.”
He said that was the plan that allegedly triggered Fubara’s public statement: “I will tell the boys what to do at the appropriate time.”
Nwaeke, who stated that he was making the revelations to free his conscience, said the plan was to destroy all the oil facilities in a bid to allegedly shoot down Tinubu’s government and his re-election bid.
Referring to Fubara, Nwaeke continued: “He boasted to be the ‘David that will bring down the Goliath of Rivers State.’ That he has the backing of the cream-de-la-cream in the state.
“The plan was to start from non-Ijaw speaking areas to destroy oil facilities to remove attention from the Ijaw and make it have a statewide look. The Ogoni, Oyibo, Ahoda areas were to be bombed first before the Ijaw zones. This would have brought down the government of President Tinubu and usher in a new President from the coalition of political parties with a Vice President from the Ijaw.
“The media was to be captured by paying heavily for airtime and retaining the social media influencers and known social critics on their payroll.”
According to him, Fubara, during one of the nocturnal visits by Bauchi governor, Bala Muhammad, and other stakeholders, had told him (Nwaeke) of his readiness to support Governor Bala or any other northerner for president in 2027.
He added that the more worrisome is the alleged meetings between the governor, his chief of staff and militant leaders, where he claimed huge amounts of money were shared.
That’s not my husband; he’s speaking under duress — Wife
However, George Nwaeke’s wife, Florence, has raised the alarm following the video of her husband making shocking claims against Fubara.
The distraught wife, who spoke to journalists Friday night, said the whereabouts of Nwaeke were unknown as he had left for Abuja on the invitation of a friend to discuss his resignation and situation in Rivers.
Mrs. Nwaeke expressed dismay over the video of her husband’s interview, adding that the former head of service might have spoken to the press under duress.
“The next thing I saw this night: people were calling me and said he got an interview. I said, ‘What interview? Interview for what?’ Not until I saw things flying on the internet that he granted an interview. What happened? I said, ‘That is not my husband. That is not my husband.’
“So I sent him a message. I said, ‘Are you under duress?’ I sent him a message. I said, ‘Have they kidnapped you? Talk to me now. Why are you not talking to me?’ This is the message I sent to him when I saw his interview online.
“Oh, Jesus, help me. Nigerians, help me. My husband is in trouble. My husband is in trouble. My husband is in trouble. My husband is in trouble. Look at the message I sent to him. See the message I sent to him. I said, ‘Daddy, why? Were you in hostage?’ I said, ‘Why didn’t you talk to me?’ These are the messages I sent to him, but he didn’t reply to me. His numbers are not going through. Nigerians, help me! Nigerians, help me!”
The wife, in another video sighted by Tribune Online, begged the suspended governor to help her over the whereabouts of Nwaeke.
She begged, “Governor, help me. My husband is in trouble,” she said. “He is in trouble.”
TRIBUNE
