According to 9jalead Official, tensions flared in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, on Friday as supporters of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and backers of the suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, clashed during a town hall meeting, as reported by Channels Television.
The meeting drew residents, political stakeholders, and followers of both factions, who gathered to voice their opinions on the ongoing political turmoil in the oil-rich state.
During the session, attendees were allowed to speak in turns. However, tension escalated when Bright Amaewhule, President General of the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI), took the podium.
He declared, “There is no indigene of Rivers State who doesn’t acknowledge GDI’s role in Sim Fubara’s emergence as governor. Long before the official campaigns began, GDI took him from one local government area to another, not the Honourable Minister.
It was GDI that made Sim acceptable to the people, even when he faced rejection from those who now surround him and advise him to disregard the party that gave him the platform.”
His remarks sparked a reaction from Labour Party Chairman in Rivers State, Hilda Dokubo, who abruptly stood up and exited the hall, saying, “I can’t sit here and listen to this.” She was eventually persuaded by organisers to return to her seat.
The next speaker, Mr Kenwell Ibanibo, responded to Amaewhule’s claims, questioning the justification for the governor’s attempted impeachment. “The GDI Chairman claimed they helped Sim Fubara rise to power, but what exactly did he do to face an impeachment attempt just five months into office? Clearly, someone with influence, acting like the owner of Rivers State, orchestrated that move.”
At this point, tension peaked as supporters of the FCT Minister, led by Chibike Ikenga, the factional APC Chairman in Rivers, interrupted Ibanibo’s remarks. Despite their interjection, he remained composed, stating, “You spoke; I didn’t interrupt you.”
What followed was a heated exchange between members of both camps. One of Wike’s supporters shouted, “Go ahead and insult Wike! You all will still crawl back and beg. Someone who’s down hasn’t even stood up, and you’re talking!”
To this, Dokubo, who had already returned to the meeting, snapped back, “He will not lie down! I say he will not lie down! Is it not Wike that’s lying low somewhere now!?”
As voices grew louder and tempers flared, the host of the event repeatedly appealed for calm, asking participants to return to their seats. Prominent figure Mr Jake Epelle was also seen intervening, pleading with the agitated crowd to remain civil.
Security personnel eventually entered the venue, positioning themselves discreetly to monitor the situation.
Mr Ibanibo later offered to step down temporarily from the stage to ease the growing unrest, a move that helped to defuse the situation and allowed the event to proceed.
The drama didn’t end there. Tension rose once more when well-known Niger Delta rights advocate Ann-Kio Briggs was interrupted by Mr Ikenga.
She curtly shut him down, saying, “I don’t know when you spoke, but I did not interrupt you; please let me be. If I don’t speak for you, I speak for myself.”
President Bola Tinubu had earlier suspended Governor Fubara for six months amid the crisis, which had led to the sabotage of oil installations in the state.
