Emergency Rule Saved Rivers State from Chaos, Fubara Orchestrated the Crises, Says Former Head of Service

Dr. George Nweke, the former Head of Civil Service in Rivers State, has credited President Bola Tinubu’s decision to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State as the intervention that prevented the state from descending into anarchy.

Speaking to journalists in Port Harcourt on Friday, Nweke revealed that the suspended Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, was behind the political crises in the state, orchestrating the destruction of public buildings and engaging in other dubious activities.

Nweke clarified that he was neither dismissed nor coerced into resigning as the Head of Service. He expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for his swift response, particularly the declaration of a state of emergency, which has now been ratified by the National Assembly.

Addressing the public, Nweke said, “I stand before you today as your former Head of Service with humility and a sense of responsibility. You’ll recall that I was appointed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and I thank him for the opportunity to serve in that capacity. Despite the misinformation circulating in the media, I want to set the record straight—I was neither sacked nor pressured into resigning; I left willingly, from the bottom of my heart.”

“As an insider who worked closely with Governor Fubara, it would be wrong for me to remain silent about certain actions that have affected and could further harm our state. I want to take this opportunity to thank President Tinubu for his decisive action in declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State, which was later endorsed by the National Assembly.”

Nweke continued by outlining some of the key incidents that led to the unrest in the state. He claimed that Governor Fubara had orchestrated the destruction of the Rivers State House of Assembly in an attempt to avoid impeachment. Nweke alleged that Fubara’s Chief of Staff, Edison Ehie, was directly involved in the operation, receiving money for the destruction, though Nweke could not confirm the amount.

“I want to be clear, the House of Assembly complex on Moscow Road was destroyed by Edison Ehie under the direct instructions of Governor Siminalayi Fubara. I challenge him to an open confrontation, and I will expose more details,” Nweke stated.

Nweke also revealed that another attempt was made to destroy the residential quarters of the House of Assembly members, but this was thwarted by a public outcry from Rivers youths, elders, and National Assembly members. He recalled Fubara’s remark to him, expressing regret that he hadn’t demolished the assembly hall before targeting the residential quarters.

“I was stunned,” Nweke said. “How could a leader destroy state assets and waste public resources in a petty ego battle? This is not leadership.”

Further, Nweke expressed his concern over critics of the state of emergency, urging them to reconsider their stance. He emphasized that without President Tinubu’s intervention, the situation in Rivers could have escalated to severe economic sabotage and widespread violence. He also cautioned against underestimating the gravity of the crisis orchestrated by Fubara and his associates.

Nweke disclosed that Fubara had mentioned using the Ijaw people to influence national politics. According to Nweke, Fubara stated that, with his influence over the Ijaw community and control over the state’s pipelines, he could manipulate political outcomes by directing youth groups and funding their activities.

“This statement was deeply troubling,” Nweke said. “When Fubara publicly stated that he would tell the boys what to do at the appropriate time, I knew something dangerous was looming.”

In conclusion, Nweke expressed his continued support for the President’s actions and urged him not to give up on Rivers State, as he believed much more was at stake.