ABUJA, Nigeria – Dr. George Nweke, the former Head of Service (HoS) in Rivers State, has made serious allegations against the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminialayi Fubara.
In a press briefing held in Abuja on Friday, March 28, 2025, Nweke accused Fubara of masterminding recent explosions at oil facilities in the state and orchestrating the destruction of the Rivers State House of Assembly complex in 2023 in an attempt to prevent his impeachment.
Nweke, who was removed from office by the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibom Ete Ibas, expressed frustration over the state’s political crisis, highlighting what he described as an abuse of state resources by Fubara.
Nweke, who had served closely with Fubara, clarified that he voluntarily resigned from his position, stating that the decision was not forced.
He emphasised that as an insider in the administration, it would be wrong for him to remain silent on matters affecting the state.
Nweke expressed his concern over the ongoing crisis, noting that without the intervention of President Bola Tinubu and the declaration of a state of emergency, the situation could have escalated into significant economic sabotage.
“I want to thank Mr. President for his swift intervention in the Rivers State crisis, especially the state of emergency that was declared,” Nweke said.
He added, “If not for the intervention of Mr. President, Nigeria would have faced the worst economic sabotage, and Rivers State would have been up in flames.”
Nweke’s allegations paint a troubling picture of the actions taken by Fubara and his administration.
He claimed that Fubara directed his suspended Chief of Staff, Edison Ehie, to set fire to the Rivers State House of Assembly complex in a desperate attempt to avoid impeachment.
“I was there when a bag of money was handed over to Edison for that operation,” Nweke claimed, adding that he believed the destruction of the Assembly was orchestrated by Fubara.
He further alleged that Fubara had also planned to demolish the residential quarters of state lawmakers, but that a public outcry prevented the action.
“The plan was to start from non-Ijaw speaking areas to destroy oil facilities to remove attention from the Ijaw and make it have a statewide look,” Nweke said, referring to an alleged coordinated effort to destabilise the state.
In his remarks, Nweke also warned stakeholders in the region to reconsider their stance on the state of emergency, asserting that the President’s intervention was crucial to averting further damage to the state.
He also accused Fubara of meeting with militant leaders and using state funds to compromise local leaders, including the Rivers State Labour Union.
Fubara has since denied the allegations, calling them “laughable” and accusing Nweke of being compromised.
In a statement posted on social media, Fubara urged Rivers residents and Nigerians to disregard the claims made by Nweke, asserting that he had never engaged with militants or facilitated attacks on state assets.
“It is ludicrous for Dr. Nwaeke to claim that he was aware of my meetings to encourage attacks on oil pipelines and other national assets,” Fubara stated.
“The truth is that I have been at the forefront preaching peace in the state.”
With the ongoing investigations into the claims and the declaration of a state of emergency, the situation remains fluid.
