Governor Fubara Exposes Those Behind Rivers State Explosion

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, has revealed that the explosion near the Hotel Presidential during a protest by supporters of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, was a calculated attempt to portray heightened insecurity in the state.

Governor Fubara stated that the timing of the explosion was deliberate, coinciding with the visit of the Senate Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation, led by its Chairman, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, to Port Harcourt to meet with the state government.

The governor clarified that he is not in conflict with anyone but is committed to defending the state and protecting its supporters from those who seek to dominate others' lives. He emphasized that the failed attempt to detonate an explosive device at the five-star Hotel Presidential was a deliberate scheme by detractors to justify calls for a state of emergency.

Speaking during a visit by the Senate Committee to Government House in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, Governor Fubara alleged that the same individuals who opposed the committee's visit had orchestrated the act to gain political leverage.

He explained that certain youths were hired to protest for the extension of tenure of former local government chairmen who had completed their statutory three-year terms. The protesters and their sponsors were aware that some National Assembly members were staying at the Hotel Presidential, and attempted to detonate an explosive device nearby to bolster the argument for a state of emergency.

Governor Fubara recounted, "Yesterday, they were aware that you were in the state. There was an attempt to create a serious problem. There was a plan to detonate dynamite at the Hotel Presidential because you were there. But, fortunately, the person attempting it detonated the device prematurely, injuring himself."

He continued, "The idea was that the explosion would justify the call for a state of emergency when raised at the National Assembly, citing the incident witnessed by distinguished colleagues during their visit to Rivers State."

Governor Fubara also questioned the apparent inaction of the law regarding those pushing for tenure extensions for former local government chairmen, highlighting that such an issue has not been problematic elsewhere in the country.

By shedding light on this incident, Governor Fubara underscores the need for vigilance and the importance of safeguarding the integrity and security of Rivers State against those with malicious intents.