…Accuses Gov of Lying, Contract Racketeering, Plotting Against Wike
By Jeremy Fregene
A fresh wave of political tension has erupted in Rivers State as the House of Assembly fired back at Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s emotional remarks during the commissioning of the extended Ahoada–Omoku road, accusing him of lying, violating due process, and plotting to buy off lawmakers.
Governor Fubara, speaking at the event on Monday, lamented that he had “suffered too much” for refusing to tell his own side of the story in the protracted crisis rocking the state. He insisted that contrary to public perception, he had no quarrel with members of the State House of Assembly and had made repeated efforts to meet with them.
According to the governor, the delay in engagement stemmed not from him but from a protocol issue involving his political leader, Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike. Fubara claimed the lawmakers had insisted that any meeting must be arranged by Wike, and that he was only waiting for such a meeting to be scheduled.
“I have made every effort to meet with them,” he said. “Whoever is saying I don’t want to meet members of the Assembly is not telling the truth. I am ready to resolve whatever their issues are so we can have peace in this state.”
But hours later, the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, reacted with fury, flatly rejecting the governor’s version of events.
Speaking to journalists in Port Harcourt, Amaewhule insisted that Fubara “lied” to the public, revealing that, on President Bola Tinubu’s directive, Wike had already convened two meetings between the governor and the lawmakers: first at the FCT minister’s residence and later at the home of businessman Ferdinand Alabraba.
The lawmakers accused Fubara of refusing to honour agreements reached at both meetings.
They described his speech as “unnecessary, condemnable, and capable of triggering another round of crisis in Rivers State.”
The Assembly further charged the governor with allegedly disparaging Wike in his public comments, and with awarding contracts and spending state funds without legislative approval, funds they said were channelled to his cronies.
In a more explosive allegation, the lawmakers accused Fubara of plotting to use state resources to buy off Assembly members, declaring that “the Assembly is not for sale.” They also insisted that the outgone sole administrator left behind ₦600 billion, challenging the governor’s narrative on the state’s finances.
Fubara, however, had used the road commissioning to call for unity and reaffirm his willingness to meet with the legislators. He stressed that he did not want to bypass established channels so as not to be accused of dividing the Assembly.
“I am a gentleman and a principled person,” he said. “I have suffered too much because of a single story. Nobody has heard my side.”
He also defended his administration’s performance, stating that despite political turbulence, his government remains focused on delivering development. The commissioning of the Julius Berger–executed road project, he said, was evidence of his commitment to the region.
But the state lawmakers insist the governor is the one undermining peace and stability, even as they pledged loyalty to President Tinubu’s peace accord for the state.