Kinsmen disown ex-HoS, back suspended gov
Former Head of the Rivers State Civil Service, George Nwaeke, has alleged that the theft of public funds under the suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara is mind-boggling.
However, Nwaeke’s kinsmen of Omuma Local Council have distanced themselves from the allegations he levelled against Fubara. Concerned Omuma stakeholders said it was disappointing that Nwaeke allowed himself to be used to destroy the state.
In a press briefing at the weekend, Nwaeke, who recently resigned as HoS, said he would provide evidence to security operatives when called upon.
“I cannot also give all my evidence to the media; some are sensitive. I will give details to the proper authorities when required of me,” Nwaeke said. “The level of stealing of public funds and assets witnessed in the last two years is mind-boggling. I have never experienced it in the history of the state, as we also had the highest allocation ever within this period.”
During an earlier briefing, at the weekend, in Abuja, Nwaeke claimed that Fubara directed his Chief of Staff, Edison Ehie, to burn down the Rivers House of Assembly.
However, reacting to the allegations, Fubara said the former HoS had been “compromised” and was being “coerced” to lie against him.
Speaking with journalists on Friday evening, Nwaeke’s wife, Florence, said she could no longer communicate with Nwaeke after he granted an interview about the political crisis in Rivers.
She said her husband had been kidnapped and that the interview was made under duress.
Nwaeke said Fubara did not address the allegation of plotting to bomb the Assembly Complex, adding that his first interview, in which he made some allegations against Fubara, was not under duress.
He said his wife could not speak on his behalf on issues about the state’s civil service.
SPEAKING on behalf of the Omuma leaders, Maximus Nwafor described Nwaeke’s allegations against Fubara as false and baseless, pledging his kinsmen’s full loyalty to the governor.
Upon invitation to Abuja, Nwaeke had claimed that Fubara masterminded the bombing of the Assembly Complex, pipeline explosions in the state and plans to unseat President Bola Tinubu.
Even Nwaeke’s wife added that her husband couldn’t say such a thing, except he was coerced.
Nwafor said, “A sad day for the people of Omuma and Rivers in general as Dr George Nweke displays his true nature. It is with a heavy heart that we, as Omuma stakeholders, address you today in reaction to the actions of one of our sons.
“We are not all together astounded by Nweke’s recent propaganda against our dear governor, Fubara. We never imagined that it would take this dimension of peddling blatant falsehood against an innocent man who is his benefactor and who has prioritised the well-being of Omuma after eight horrific years of the last administration.”
The immediate past Commissioner for Energy and Natural Resources said Nweke, shortly after his resignation, reached out to the governor and his Chief of Staff for financial assistance.
“We are in good authority that Nweke, who a few days ago had reached out to the Chief of Staff and governor for financial assistance, out of impatience, sought other means to get it, including blackmailing the governor and some top officials in the state.
“From his press briefing, it is obvious that he has been compromised to proclaim this level of falsehood. We state categorically that there is no element of truth in all Nweke said in his press briefing, as he was not a member of the local government inner caucus, much more being part of the state caucus.”
