The Chairperson of the Congress of All Progressive (APC) in the State of Rivers, Head of Tony Okocha, on Wednesday, demanded an investigation of the Governor who was deferred by Siminaayi Fubara and his loyalist on the demolition of the State Council and the accusations of financial abuse.
Okocha’s nickname for an investigation to follow the claim made by the former Head of Service (HOS) in the state, George Nwake, who accused during the weekend that Fubara regulated the destruction of the assembly complex to prevent its impeachment by parliament members.
However, Fubara’s special advisor in electronic media, Jerry Omotsegunwa, rejected calls for investigation, describing it as baseless.
“It is ridiculous for everyone who thinks appropriately to trust the previous hos video recognition,” Omotsegunwa said, labeling Nwake’s accusations as not coherent and illogical.
The former HOS claimed to have personally witnessed Fubara handing over a bag of money to his Chief of Staff, Edison Ehie, to facilitate attacks on the assembly complex. Both Fubara and Ehie strongly denied this claim, with the Fubara camp insisted that Nwake was not in the right frame of mind when making accusations. Ehie has since instructed his lawyer to pursue a defamation lawsuit against Nwake.
Also read: Falana accuses Nigerians to demand accountability from leaders
Apart from the rejection, Okocha, a close ally of political rivals and predecessor Fubara, Nyesom Wike, insisted on Wednesday that the Nwaeke account could not be easily dismissed because of the previous high position in the state government.
“The Nwaeke account further strengthens the position of the APC River that Fubara is an architect of the political crisis in the state. His actions require direct intervention from the President of the Tinubu Soccer to restore order and prevent the total details of peace,” Okocha said.
He further argues that Nwake’s testimony confirmed APC’s previous attitude about this issue, involving Fubara and Ehie in the Assembly attack.
“The truth is like during the day – it cannot be hidden. Let me emphasize that as the head of service at the time, Nwake is the third most powerful figure in the state. His account is not just a rumor,” Okocha added. “Dispose of taxpayers in the State of Rivers under the Fubara Watches have never happened before, occurred during economic difficulties.”
Okocha referred to the decision of the new Supreme Court, which according to him described Fubara’s leadership style as a dictator.
In response, the Fubara camp has stated that the accusation against him was motivated politically and lacking credibility. Omotsegunwa rejected the narrative of Nwake’s shift as contradictory and unreliable.
“He (Nwaeke) initially claimed he was in a meeting where the governor, the chief of staff, and a former local government chairman planned the attack. Then in another video, he said he was not present but was told about it. Then, he claimed he saw them carrying bags, but were not realized by his people.
He further questioned the accusation of wrong financial management, which stated that the Fubara project had been studied and turned out to be wise.
“Phantom’s funds called N16 billion are not anywhere. The only administrator who oversees state finances has reviewed the Fubara Governor’s projects and praised its financial discipline. I don’t know what else Tony Okocha is discussed. How can anyone trust this contradictory and illogical video?” He concluded.
Join the conversation
Supports Nigeria’s ripples, resistant Journalism Solutions
A balanced and fearful journalism that is driven by data comes with enormous financial costs.
As a media platform, we ask for leadership accountability and will not trade the right to suppress freedom and freedom of speech for a piece of cake.
If you like what we do, and ready to uphold journalism solutions, friendly Nigerian ripples cause.
Your support will help ensure that residents and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for community development.
Donation now