“The Governor Lied”: Amaewhule Claims Fubara Is Fueling Fresh Political Crisis in Rivers State

A renewed wave of political tension is unfolding in Rivers State following a sharp accusation by Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, who publicly declared that “the governor lied,” accusing Governor Siminalayi Fubara of misrepresenting his interactions with lawmakers and stoking instability in the state.

Amaewhule dismissed Fubara’s claim that he had been unable to meet with members of the Assembly, insisting that the governor’s statement was false and deliberately misleading. “First and foremost, the governor lied when he said he hasn’t been able to meet with members of the Rivers State House of Assembly,” he said. “Shortly after the State of Emergency was called off, the FCT Minister convened a meeting with the governor and principal officers of the Assembly. I can confirm I was in that meeting.”

He asserted that lawmakers had met with Fubara multiple times and argued that the governor’s comments were “insincere” and indicative of what he described as poor leadership. According to him, the governor’s remarks were aimed at creating the impression of a communication breakdown, a move he believes is laying the groundwork for another round of political friction. He urged residents to “disregard the governor’s claims and remain watchful as events unfold.”

Governor Fubara, however, rejected the notion of any rift with lawmakers while speaking during the commissioning of the extended and dualised 28.4-kilometre Ahoada–Omoku Road. He insisted that he had already made arrangements for a meeting with lawmakers involving his predecessor and FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, elder statesman Ferdinand Alabraba, and other political leaders. “Anyone saying I refused to meet with the lawmakers or rejected proposals concerning them is not telling the truth,” he said.

Fubara, who earlier announced his defection from the PDP to the APC, emphasized that his move was not driven by personal ambition but by a desire to ensure peace in the state. He appealed to Rivers people to continue supporting President Bola Tinubu and to avoid divisive politics. “My decision is to promote peace and progress in Rivers. Stand firm with the President and with your government,” he told his supporters.

The renewed exchange reopens political wounds that have persisted since Fubara took office in 2023. His strained relationship with Wike, his predecessor, has triggered multiple confrontations involving the Amaewhule-led Assembly. The conflict escalated dramatically in March 2025, prompting the President to impose a state of emergency, suspend the governor, his deputy, and all lawmakers for six months, and appoint Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd) as administrator of the state.

A reconciliation effort in June brought Fubara, Wike, Amaewhule, and other key figures together, raising hopes of stability. Their joint public appearances in the months that followed pointed to an improving political climate, eventually leading to the suspension of the emergency rule in September after the President cited “a new spirit of understanding” among stakeholders.

Amaewhule’s latest accusation, however, signals that lasting peace may remain elusive as Rivers State once again edges toward uncertainty.