The past week in Rivers State marked highwire intrigues and gale of accusations and denials, indication that the political battles ahead would, like in the recent past, glide on blackmail.
The target of the long knives seems to be the two major combatants or gladiators; Gov Sim Fubara and ex-Gov Nyesom Wike, now FCT Minister.
No day seems to pass without one outburst against Fubara or Wike accusing either of one evil in the state or the other.
The gale of accusations began with notion that the leaders were the ones sponsoring the attacks on oil facilities.
There was also accusation that suspended governor, Fubara, sponsored Hilda Dokubo, the Labour Party chairperson in the state, to stage protests against Wike. She has come out to deny it, claiming she cannot be bought.
It appeared that the alleged messages were not restricted to the commoners. The presidency is said to have fueled allegations of abandoning the Rivers State House of Assembly, but the Sole Administrator who paid a sudden visit there seemed to unwittingly debunk such notion when he said the project was going according to schedule and that government paid what they were supposed to pay. This seemed to tingle the ears of the Fubara camp who now wondered who fed the Presidency with false information.
Fubara was also accused in the statement of declaration of state of emergency that Gov Fubara did nothing to stop those bombing oil facilities. Nelson Chukwudi, the governor’s chief press secretary, reacted saying their attention was been drawn to a number of allegations claiming that Gov Fubara did nothing to dissuade criminal groups and militants from making good their threats to attack oil installations in the State.
“There was also another claim that after demolishing the Hallowed Chambers of the State House of Assembly on Moscow Road in Port Harcourt, the Governor did nothing to rebuild the facility.”
He said Gov Fubara has nothing to do with the threats by militants and also did not in any way “telegraph” the reported attacks on any oil facility in the State.
The statement rather pointe to the direction of the FCT Minister, Wike, who allegedly stoked the anger of the stakeholders in the Niger Delta, especially elders, chiefs, women, Ijaw National Congress, its youth wing, IYC, as well as militants, among others, by his remarks and taunting. “Most of the Ijaw groups and leaders even demanded an apology from the FCT Minister, which he rebuffed.”
“On the claim that the Governor acted with impunity to demolish the Hallowed Chambers of the State House of Assembly and did nothing to rebuild the Chambers 14 months after, it is on record that Gov Fubara acted based on professional advice and guidance.
“Let it be clarified that the former Governor and now FCT Minister repeatedly criticized the dilapidated and leaking Assembly Complex, and during the commissioning of the Assembly Quarters in August 2022, challenged the lawmakers to take responsibility for the poor state of the edifice, rejecting requests to rebuild it to ensure a conducive legislative environment for the lawmakers.
“It must be noted that immediately after the incident of October 29, 2023, and experts’ reports, the Government decided to heed the age-old demands of the lawmakers to rebuild the facility and promptly demolished the dilapidated structure to give way to a state-of-the-art Assembly Complex, which is now nearly 80 percent completed.”
Read also: Rivers enters highwire video wars that may up the crisis to deadly levels
Suspended Gov Fubara felt targeted in the social media and called them malicious, fake, and imaginary videos of purported explosions on oil and gas facilities in Rivers State.
“Virtually all the fake videos have been linked to alleged militant groups in the State, with the creators of such content trying very hard to connect them to supporters of Governor Fubara.
“Already, the communities where these incidents are alleged to have occurred have reacted, dismissing any claims of explosions on oil and gas facilities in their domains, and reassuring that all critical government assets within their areas are safe, secure and efficiently functioning.”
For the avoidance of doubt, the statement said, “Gov Fubara has no link to any militant group, does not contemplate any such association, and has no reason to encourage any criminal group or elements, anywhere in the State or Niger Delta, to undertake any action inimical to the peace of the people or safety and security of oil and gas facilities, and by extension, the economy of the country.
“The Governor had repeatedly made it clear at every public event that the peace of the State is paramount to him, and that he would pay any price to secure and sustain peace in the State, as it is only in an atmosphere of peace and security that governance and development can thrive.
“Governor Fubara vehemently warns purveyors of violence and economic sabotage to steer clear of the State, and avoid any attempt to use his name or capitalise on the present political crisis to foment trouble in the State.”
Chidi Lloyd:
Chidi Lloyd, one of the strongest Wike loyalists, came into view toward the end of the week when a thread mentioned him as being fingered by a man caught in attempting to bomb an oil facility in Aluu, near the Uniport.
BusinessDay investigations could not establish such link despite claims that the security agencies were moving in on him.
Lloyd hit back thus: “I am not the one who declared state of emergency, neither am I a member of the National Assembly that ratified Mr. President’s request. Please take your frustrations elsewhere. It is on record how I fought assiduously to end pipeline vandalism in my local government during my reign as chairman. I will not at this time, turn around to sabotage government efforts at increased revenue for the nation.”
He said he had instructed his lawyers to do the needful to bring those behind the rumour to book.”
Some of the vicious rumours have also targeted the Sole Administrator. Often, he is accused to leaning to the Wike camp, to the extent of screaming that he had picked a strong Wike loyalist as Chief of Staff in Government House. This turned out to be a hoax as a naval officer was later unveiled as the new Chief of Staff.
More may likely explode in the coming days and weeks as the days of long knives continue to dawn on Rivers State.
