More drama and twists are unfolding from the political crisis that had been rocking Rivers State before and after the declaration of state of emergency in the State.
The latest came to the fore following the allegations by the former Head of Service of the state, George Nwaeke that the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara was behind the destruction of the House of Assembly and the recent bombing of oil facilities as well as supporting the 2027 presidential ambition of Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State.
However not up to 24 hours after the interview went viral, there was a turn of events on Friday, as a cry for help resonated from Florence Nwaeke, the wife of former Head of Service of the state, George Nwaeke.
Battling with emotions and concern, Mr George Nwaeke’s distraught wife told journalists she was afraid for her husband’s life and had no idea where he was.
“When he got to Abuja, he called that he had landed. I said, ‘Thank God’,” she said.
“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!”
According to reports from sources, Mrs Nwaeke, in another video who called on Governor Fubara to intervene over her husband’s whereabouts, said her husband was in trouble and was being forced to confess to things he knew nothing about.
“Governor, help me. My husband is in trouble,” she said. “He is in trouble,” the woman said, claiming the husband resigned under duress.
Reacting to the allegations by TB former Head of service, Governor Fubara was of the opinion that Fr Nwaeke may have been paid or coerced to make the “false” claims against him.
“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,” Fubara said in a statement he issued late Friday.
The governor who backed his position with screenshots of chats said to have been between Mr Nwaeke and his Chief of Staff, Ederson Ehie, revealed that Mr Nwaeke had been reaching out to Ehie for funds and support in exchange for his loyalty, claiming that he earns N500,000, which was inadequate to meet his needs.
