The political turmoil in Rivers State has intensified following explosive allegations by the former Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke, against suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, while his wife, Florence Nwaeke, has raised concerns over his safety after his sudden disappearance.
Speaking to journalists on Friday, Florence Nwaeke appealed for help, expressing fear that her husband may be in danger.
“When he got to Abuja, he called that he had landed. I said, ‘Thank God,’” she recounted. However, her fears escalated after seeing an online interview her husband granted, which she found suspicious.
“I said, ‘That is not my husband.’ I sent him a message asking, ‘Are you under duress? Have they kidnapped you? Why are you not talking to me?’ But he didn’t reply, and his numbers are not going through. Nigerians, help me!” she pleaded.
Her emotional plea comes as her husband accuses Governor Fubara of orchestrating the 2023 bombing of the Rivers State House of Assembly to prevent his impeachment.
In a press briefing, Dr. Nwaeke alleged that Fubara’s Chief of Staff, Edison Ehie, carried out the operation under the governor’s orders, with a bag of money exchanged to execute the act.
“I want to tell Rivers people today that the House of Assembly complex on Moscow Road was clearly brought down by Edison Ehie under the instructions of Governor Siminalayi Fubara,” Nwaeke claimed. “I was there when a bag of money was handed over to Edison for that operation, though I do not know the amount inside.”
He further alleged that Fubara planned to leverage his influence over oil facilities in Rivers and Bayelsa States to disrupt the federal government and support Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, for the 2027 presidency.
“He told me that he is the chief security officer of Rivers State, and his brother is in charge of Bayelsa State, and all the pipelines are under their care. At the appropriate time, they will tell the boys what to do, and funding is not an issue,” Nwaeke alleged.
He also accused the governor of compromising the Labour Union through private meetings involving large sums of money and funding militant groups to destabilize non-Ijaw-speaking regions.
Hours later, Florence Nwaeke spoke to journalists, expressing alarm over her husband’s safety after his resignation and a suspicious online interview.
She recounted, “When he got to Abuja, he called that he had landed. I said, ‘Thank God.’” However, after seeing the interview, she said, “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.” Distraught, she pleaded, “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!” She also appealed to Fubara, saying, “Governor, help me. My husband is in trouble. He is in trouble,” claiming his resignation was forced.
Fubara dismissed Nwaeke’s allegations in a late Friday statement, asserting, “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.”
He supported his rebuttal with alleged chat screenshots showing Nwaeke seeking financial aid from Chief of Staff Edison Ehie.
The allegations and Florence’s plea have sparked outrage and calls for investigation, with no official response yet from the Rivers State government. The situation remains tense as residents grapple with the unfolding drama.
