Supporters of the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, and those of the suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, clashed on Friday at a town hall meeting in Port Harcourt.
The meeting was convened in a bid to encourage dialogue among Rivers stakeholders.
But it quickly turned contentious as different attendees took turns to voice their opinions.
The flashpoint, came when Bright Amaewhule, President General of the Grassroots Development Initiative, a pro-Wike political group, made claims about the group’s role in Fubara’s emergence as governor, Channels TV report indicated on Friday.
“There’s no indigene of Rivers State that will not recognize the role GDI played in the emergence of Sim Fubara as governor of Rivers State. Before the campaign proper, we moved Sim from one local government to another, not the Honorable Minister,” Amaewhule said.
He added, “GDI was the group that propelled Sim into being accepted by the people of Rivers State even when he was rejected by the people who claim to be his brothers and sisters.”
These comments provoked immediate reaction. The state chairman of the Labour Party and a known Fubara supporter, Hilda Dokubo, stormed out of the hall in protest. “I can’t sit here and listen to this,” she exclaimed, though she was later persuaded to return by the organisers.
The meeting further spiraled when Kenwell Ibanibo, another speaker, challenged Amaewhule’s narrative and questioned the attempted impeachment of Governor Fubara just months after assuming office.
“I’ve heard the GDI Chairman say they supported Sim Fubara to become governor, but I’m asking you, what did he do to warrant the first impeachment attempt after just five months?” Ibanibo asked.
“The point is somebody somewhere who thinks he’s the owner of Rivers State took this position and influenced the impeachment.”