Rivers State Government has debunked viral report on social media and other platforms that Governor Siminalaye Fubara sacked the Chief Judge and Chief of Staff Government House, among others.
The State Government denied the allegations on Tuesday in Port Harcourt, in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Joe Johnson.
The viral reports followed the crisis that erupted in the state House of Assembly on Monday with lawmakers serving impeachment notice on Fubara.
After the impeachment notice, some media platforms alleged that the chief judge of the state, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi, Chief of staff Government House, Chidi Amadi, and the 23 Local Government Chairmen were sacked by the governor.
While debunking the allegations, Johnson said claims were false adding that governor could not have sacked his aides and local council chairmen at once.
The statement read, “This is to clarify that His Excellency has not given me such directive (to announce their sack) as the official spokesman of the State government as of today Tuesday, October 31, 2023.
“Our dear governor is a technocrat, with a robust civil service background, kind-hearted and a very humane person who does things according to laid down rules and with the fear of God.
“We therefore ask Rivers people and the general public to jettison such unconfirmed reports as the public will be properly informed of who may have been removed by His Excellency at the appropriate time.
“It is pertinent to note that as the Commissioner for Information and Communication, I shall keep the public updated on events in due course.”
Meanwhile, there appears to be relative peace in the state after heaven was almost let loose on Monday. This may not be unconnected to the last-minute peace move made by the elders of the state on Monday night.
Though the outcome of the peace meeting has not been made public, sources said the elders pleaded with the two factions, Siminalaye Fubara and Nyesom Wike, to sheath their swords and allow peace to reign in the state.
Meanwhile, Rivers Youths Rescue Mission, has urged the two political leaders to exercise some restraint and work for peace and tranquillity in Rivers state.
A statement jointly signed by Comrade Solomon Lenu. Director General and Comrade Tuka Loanyie, Secretary of the group, said, “we want to further call on all Rivers men of conscience once again, to all join hands together to support Gov SIM Fubara, for this is not a time to sit idly on the fence for the observance of party or tribal delineation.
“We condemn in its totality the unprofessional approach of the Rivers state police high command on how they have handled this impasse in the state as seen in a video excerpt circulating on social media, where the revered office of the executive Gov was openly denigrated when water cannons were pelted at the Gov. This is unacceptable and we call on the force’s headquarters to intervene immediately and redeploy the leadership of the current state command if need be, because he has clearly shown his inability to protect the people of Rivers state if he cannot protect the number-one citizen of our dear state.
“We must all rise up at this critical moment to say enough is enough. And if not for our own sakes, let’s do it for the sake of those behind us and for generations unborn. Today the comity of states is moving forward with innovative developments, so we must not remain in the jungle of mumble politics and return 30yrs from now to play catch-up with our peers or with those who once looked up to us because we failed to take action for petty sentiments when the need beckoned.”
