The political crisis in Rivers State has taken a dramatic turn as the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Chief Tony Okocha, has called for an urgent probe into suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara over the demolition of the State House of Assembly complex and alleged misappropriation of public funds.
Okocha’s demand follows explosive allegations from the former Head of Service, George Nwaeke, who claimed that Fubara personally orchestrated the bombing of the Assembly complex to prevent his impeachment. According to Nwaeke, he allegedly witnessed Fubara handing a bag of money to his Chief of Staff, Edison Ehie, instructing him to carry out the attack.
Fubara’s Camp Dismisses Allegations as Fabricated Lies
In a swift rebuttal, Fubara’s Special Adviser on Electronic Media, Jerry Omotsegunwa, mocked the calls for a probe, describing Nwaeke’s statements as “laughable” and filled with contradictions. He argued that Nwaeke had released multiple conflicting video confessions, making his claims unreliable.
“One moment, he says he was present when the governor planned the attack, the next, he claims he only heard about it. Then he changes his story again, saying he saw bags being handed over without knowing their contents. Which version should we believe?” Omotsegunwa questioned.
Ehie, who has been named in the scandal, has denied any involvement and vowed to take legal action against Nwaeke for defamation.
Okocha Doubles Down: “Fubara Is a Dictator”
But Okocha remains unrelenting. A close ally of Fubara’s political rival, Nyesom Wike, the APC Chairman insists that the former HoS’ revelations validate long-standing claims that Fubara is the mastermind behind the political turmoil gripping Rivers State.
“The Supreme Court has already labeled Fubara a dictator. What Nwaeke said only confirms what we in the APC have been saying all along. Taxpayers’ money has been wasted recklessly under Fubara’s watch, and this cannot go unpunished,” Okocha declared.
He further argued that the involvement of a high-ranking official like Nwaeke—who was the number three figure in the state’s hierarchy at the time—makes the allegations impossible to dismiss as mere speculation.
A Battle for Control in Rivers State
The controversy comes amid an ongoing power struggle between Fubara and his estranged godfather, Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. The APC, which has consistently criticized Fubara’s administration, is using the latest accusations to push for federal intervention, calling on President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State.
Fubara’s supporters, however, see the entire saga as a desperate smear campaign by Wike’s loyalists, designed to undermine the governor’s authority.
With both sides refusing to back down, Rivers State remains a ticking time bomb of political chaos. The big question now is: will security agencies launch a formal investigation, or will this be yet another high-stakes drama swept under the carpet?
