A high drama played out in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital yesterday as supporters of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and those of the suspended governor of Rivers State Siminalayi Fubara clashed.
It was at a town hall meeting where people loyal to the two parties as well as other Rivers natives and residents took turns to express their views on the political crisis in the state.
Trouble started when the President General of Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI), Bright Amaewhule, took the stage and declared that there is no indigene of Rivers State that would not recognise the role GDI played in the emergence of Sim Fubara as governor of Rivers State.
He said: “Before the campaign proper, we moved Sim from one local government to another, not the honorable minister.
“GDI was the group that propelled Sim into being accepted by the people of Rivers State even when he was rejected by the people who claim to be his brothers and sisters.
“Even when those who now came around him after he had become governor, asking him not to listen to any other person, asking him not to be loyal to the political party that brought him.
“These were the problems.”
Amaewhule’s comments promptly drew the attention of the Chairman of Labor Party in the state, Hilda Dokubo, who got up from her seat on the front row, stepped forward and said: “I cannot sit here and listen to this”. She was, however, prevailed upon by the organisers to return to her seat.
Then came Mr Kenwell Ibanibo, who in response to Amaewhule’s comments, said: “I’ve heard the GDI Chairman say they supported Sim Fubara to become governor. But I’m asking you, what did he do to warrant the first impeachment attempt after just five months?
“The point is somebody somewhere, who thinks he is the owner of Rivers State, took this position and influenced the impeachment”
At this point, supporters of the FCT Minister, led by Chibike Ikenga, the factional Rivers APC Chairman, interjected. They started remonstrating with Mr Ibanibo who kept insisting “you spoke, I didn’t interrupt you”.
Hot words were being exchanged by supporters of both groups, with a Wike supporter heard shouting “insult Wike now! Una go still beg, una go still come lie down. Person wey lie down never stand up una Dey talk!” To this, the now returned Hilda Dokubo fired back: “Him no go lie down! I say him no go lie down!” “No be Wike lie down for somewhere so!?”
As the melee went on, the anchor tried multiple times to regain control of the situation, appealing to everyone to take their seats.
Even Mr Jake Epelle could be seen trying to calm frayed nerves as he appealed to the agitated individuals to sheath their swords.
The tense situation even led to the bouncers coming into the hall and taking up strategic positions as they watched the tense situation.
After minutes of shouting and remonstration, Mr Ibanibo volunteered to temporarily leave the stage for peace to reign, this served to calm the tensions and the town hall continued.
