Confusion: Ex-Rivers HoS’s wife raises the alarm about his whereabouts as husband accuses Fubara of bombing House of Assembly, holding meeting with militants

Mrs Nwaeke

Wife of the Rivers State former Head of Service, HoS, Florence Nwaeke, has raised the alarm that she does not know the whereabouts of her husband, George Nwaeke, after resigning from his position as HoS.

This is as the husband granted interview same Friday accusing the suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubura of bombing the state House of Assembly and holding meeting with militants on plans to destroy oil pipelines.

Late on Friday, Mrs Nwaeke told journalists she was afraid for her husband’s life and had no idea where he was.

Mrs Nwaeke, who was battling with emotions and concern, called on Nigerians and others for help.

“When he got to Abuja, he called that he had landed. I said, ‘Thank God’.

“The next thing I saw this night: people were calling me and said he got an interview. I said, ‘What interview? Interview for what?’ Not until I saw things flying on the internet that he granted an interview. What happened? I said, ‘That is not my husband. That is not my husband.’

“So I sent him a message. I said, ‘Are you under duress?’ I sent him a message. I said, ‘Have they kidnapped you? Talk to me now. Why are you not talking to me?’ This is the message I sent to him when I saw his interview online.

“Oh, Jesus, help me. Nigerians, help me. My husband is in trouble. My husband is in trouble. My husband is in trouble. My husband is in trouble. Look at the message I sent to him. See the message I sent to him. I said, ‘Daddy, why? Were you in hostage?’ I said, ‘Why didn’t you talk to me?’ These are the messages I sent to him, but he didn’t reply to me. His numbers are not going through. Nigerians, help me! Nigerians, help me,” she said.

This came a few hours after her husband had given an exclusive interview in which he levelled several allegations against Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Among other things, he accused the governor of planning to support Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed in the 2027 presidential election and also meeting with and encouraging militants to carry out attacks on oil facilities and other assets.

In another video, Mrs Nwaeke, called on Governor Fubara to intervene over her husband’s whereabouts, claiming that her husband resigned under duress.

She added that her husband was in trouble and was being forced to confess to things he knew nothing about and that he had resigned to avoid trouble.

Mrs Nwaeke, beyond raising the alarm in an interview with Channels TV, also made a call to Governor Fubara pleading with him to help her husband.

However, in the shocking revelation, Dr. Nwaeke publicly accused suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara of masterminding the burning of the Rivers State House of Assembly complex.

Nwaeke made the explosive claim during an exclusive interview on Channels Television on Friday night.

“I can no longer keep silent on what I know,” Nwaeke stated. “The burning of the Assembly complex was not an accident but a deliberate act sanctioned from the very top.”

The historic legislative building was gutted by fire on October 29, 2023, during the peak of the political crisis between Governor Fubara and Nyesom Wike. The incident occurred just hours before an impeachment plot against the governor was to be deliberated.

Nwaeke’s allegations directly contradict the official government position which had attributed the fire to an electrical malfunction. The former civil servant hinted at possessing documentary evidence to back his claims but did not provide specifics during the televised interview.

“You will recall that when the governor was suspended, as the head of service, I was the next in command. So I am not speaking from outside, I am speaking as an insider.

“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.

“First, it all started with the Rivers State House of Assembly where the Governor, Siminilayi Fubara, directed his Chief of Staff (Edison Ehie) to burn down the assembly in a way to avert his impeachment. That evening, Edison was in Government House with two other boys, including the former Chairman of Obio/Akpor LGA, one Chijioke. I was there with them when a bag of money was handed over to Edison for that operation, though I do not know the amount inside.

“I want to tell Rivers people today that the House of Assembly complex in Moscow Road was clearly brought down by Edison Ehie under the instructions of Governor Siminilayi Fubara, I challenge him to an open confrontation and I will throw more light on it.

“A day after that incident, I almost resigned, but I was very scared because I know the power of a sitting governor and he knew that I am aware of the whole plan and that I am discomforted with the unconscionable act and deliberate posture of innocence and mien of a sheep.”

When contacted for reaction, the Rivers State Commissioner for Information, Joseph Johnson, dismissed Nwaeke’s claims as “the rantings of a disgruntled former employee.”