As the drama unfolds in River state following the initially declared state of emergency by President Bola Ahmed
Tinubu. Debates ensued within the public sphere when the former Head of Service, Dr George Nwaeke, made
damning allegations against the suspended governor, Siminialayi Fubara.
The former Head of Service in Rivers State, Dr George Nwaeke, who clarified that he resigned, alleged that the
suspended Governor, sponsored the recent explosions that occurred on some oil facilities in the state.
Nwaeke also alleged that Fubara masterminded the burning of the Rivers State House of Assembly complex to stop
his impeachment by the house.
The immediate past HoS in the state spoke in a press briefing he granted in Abuja; after his exit from the office, he
appreciated Fubara for appointing him to serve in his administration.
He asserted that his aim of addressing the press was to put records straight, adding that only falsehoods are peddled
on social media platforms.
He said, “With loads of misinformation in print and electronic media, I have chosen to put the record straight. I was
not sacked, nor was I pressured to resign; I did it willingly from the depth of my heart.
“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 have affected or will affect our
state if we continue on this trajectory.
“I want to use this medium to thank Mr President for a swift intervention in the Rivers State crisis, especially on the
state of emergency that was declared and assented to by the National Assembly.
However, the suspended Governor Siminialayi Fubara, in a very swift response urged members of the public to
disregard the claims by his former Head of Service, Dr George Nweke, stating that he (Nwaeke) has been
compromised to lie against him (Fubara)
Fubara disclosed this in a statement he signed in Port Harcourt on Saturday, in response to the briefing granted to
pressmen by his former HoS, Nwaeke, in Abuja on Friday.
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Fubara said that all his former HoS said in his address to newsmen were false and urged members of the public to
disregard the same
He said, “Ordinarily, I would not have responded to his claims, but to correct the erroneous impression such
allegations may create in the minds of the people and the disaffection it is bound to cause in the state and the country.
“First, on the claim that he was aware of my discussions and plans to support Bala Mohammed’s alleged 2027
presidential bid, it is laughable that Dr Nwaeke would be part of any high-level political meeting as Head of Service,
much more sitting in my alleged night meetings with Bala Mohammed and militants as he claimed. Howbeit, none of
such meetings were ever held.
“The truth is that the whole world knew when the Bauchi State Governor, as Chairman of the Peoples Democratic
Party Governors Forum, visited the State, and there was nothing secret about the visits.
“It is also ludicrous for Dr Nwaeke to claim that he was aware of my meetings to encourage attacks on oil pipelines
and other National assets in the State, as there was no time I held any meeting with militants or any criminal group to
destabilise the State. It is on record that I have been at the forefront of preaching peace in the State even in the face
of obvious provocations.
“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.
In similar vein, the former Head of Service has also come out to deny claims made by his wife, Florence Nwaeke, that
he has been kidnapped, stating that nothing of sort ever happened.
His denial comes after his wife raised an alarm over his whereabouts, claiming she was unable to reach him.
Earlier, the wife, while speaking to journalists late Friday, expressed concerns after watching an online interview with
her husband, which she described as suspicious.
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“I said, ‘That is not my husband. That is not my husband.’ I sent him a message, ‘Are you under duress? Have they
kidnapped you? ‘Talk to me now,’ but he didn’t reply,” she said pleading for help.
Nwaeke in a video posted in the early hours of Saturday declared that he wasn’t kidnapped and he was safe in Abuja
“I am in TRANSCORP Abuja. I arrived this morning from Port Harcourt to meet security agencies and report myself, as
well as the troubling events happening in Rivers State. I resigned as Head of Service on Monday because of these
developments,” he stated.
“I just saw a video of my wife trending. She was told I had been kidnapped and given a script to read. I want to make it
clear—I am not kidnapped. I am in Abuja, working.
“When I was Head of Service, my wife was not involved in my official duties. That script she read is null and void. I am
safe and sound. I will report myself to the appropriate security agencies because Abuja houses their headquarters,
and I feel safer making my report here.”
