Former Rivers State Head of Civil Service, Dr. George Nwaeke, has accused suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara of orchestrating the 2023 bombing of the state House of Assembly complex. Nwaeke alleges this action was taken to prevent his impeachment by lawmakers aligned with Minister Nyesom Wike. Governor Fubara has vehemently denied these claims, urging Nigerians to dismiss them, Okay.ng reports.
Nwaeke, who recently resigned from his position, made these accusations during a press briefing on Friday. He claimed to have witnessed a cash handover to Edison Ehie, then a former Assembly leader and later Fubara’s Chief of Staff, for the purpose of attacking the Assembly complex.
“Governor Siminalayi Fubara directed his Chief of Staff (Edison Ehie) to burn down the Assembly to avert his impeachment,” Nwaeke stated. “I was there with them when a bag of money was handed over to Edison for that operation. 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.”
Nwaeke also alleged a subsequent attempt to destroy the Assembly members’ residential quarters, which he said was prevented by a public press conference. He further claimed Fubara had expressed regret at not demolishing the Assembly hall earlier. “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,” Nwaeke said.
He stated that he resigned voluntarily, contrary to rumors of dismissal or coercion. “I was not sacked, nor was I pressured to resign; I did it willingly from the depth of my heart,” he clarified.
Nwaeke also alleged that Fubara had made statements regarding using the Ijaw people to influence national politics, referencing control over oil pipelines.
In response, Governor Fubara dismissed Nwaeke’s allegations as “laughable” and asserted that Nwaeke had been compromised. “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,” Fubara stated. He called on Nigerians to disregard Nwaeke’s claims, describing them as attempts to discredit his administration and undermine the presidential peace process.
