Suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, has refuted allegations by former Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke, that he colluded with militant groups to destabilize the state.
Fubara described the claims as desperate attempts to discredit, mislead the public, and sabotage the peace efforts of President Bola Tinubu.
Fubara made this known in a statement shared by his Chief Press Secretary in the early hours of Saturday.
Addressing the accusations aired on Channels Television on March 28, Fubara stated that he would not have ordinarily responded but felt compelled to correct the false impression it could create among Nigerians.
He dismissed Nwaeke’s assertion that he had held secret meetings to support Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed’s purported 2027 presidential bid, emphasizing that no such discussions ever took place.
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“it is laughable that Dr. Nwaeke would be part of any high-level political meeting as Head of Service, much more sitting in my alleged night meetings with Bala Mohammed and militants like he claimed. Howbeit, none of such meetings ever held,” Fubara stated.
He further clarified that the Bauchi State Governor, in his capacity as Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors Forum, had visited Rivers State publicly, and there was nothing clandestine about the visit.
Fubara also dismissed claims that he encouraged attacks on oil pipelines and other national assets, asserting that he has always advocated for peace in Rivers State, even amid provocations.
“It is on record that I have been at the forefront preaching peace in the State even in the face of obvious provocations. There was no time I held any meeting with militants or any criminal group to destabilise the State,” he said.
“The truth is that Dr. Nwaeke has been compromised, and whatever he is saying is only aimed at fulfilling his promise to those who may have paid or coerced him to lie against me.”
He called on Rivers residents and Nigerians at large to disregard Nwaeke’s statements, labeling them as politically motivated attempts to damage his reputation and sow discord in the state.