The Chief of Staff to the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, Hon. Edison Ehie, has disclosed that he was offered a bribe of N5 billion to help in the impeachment process of his principal. Ehie, who was once the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, made the claim during an interview on Channels TV, where he stated that he had been approached with the money in October 2024 to support an impeachment plot against Fubara.
The former Speaker, who refused to disclose the identity of the person behind the bribe, reiterated his commitment to honesty and peace, stating that he turned down the offer as soon as he realized the purpose behind it. He described Governor Fubara as a man of peace, emphasizing that he would never compromise his principles for financial gain.
Hon. Edison Ehie’s revelation comes amidst ongoing political tensions in Rivers State, where Governor Fubara has been facing various accusations. According to Ehie, the attempt to bribe him to support Fubara’s impeachment was a clear indication of the high level of political manipulation in the state. The alleged bribe of N5 billion was an attempt to remove the governor, which Ehie firmly rejected.
“I was approached with N5 billion in October, with the intention of supporting the impeachment of the governor, but I refused,” Ehie said during the interview. He added that the governor’s leadership style was peaceful, and the bribery attempt was a misguided effort to destabilize the government.
The claim of an impeachment plot adds to the complex political climate in Rivers, where various factions continue to engage in power struggles. Fubara, who assumed office as governor in May 2023, has faced challenges from opposition groups and within his own party, making the issue of impeachment a sensitive topic in the state.
In another twist, Ehie responded to allegations made by George Nwaeke, the former Head of Service in Rivers State, who accused him of being involved in the bombing of the State Assembly complex. According to Ehie, the accusation was baseless, and he vehemently denied any involvement in the attack on the Assembly. He suggested that Nwaeke’s claims were influenced by personal interests and financial demands.
Ehie expressed disbelief at Nwaeke’s actions, describing them as a script written to implicate both him and Governor Fubara. He further claimed that Nwaeke, after serving in the state for 35 years, had been compromised for financial reasons.
“It is very important to clarify that I had no hand in the bombing of the Rivers State House of Assembly. We had finished screening commissioners and had left the complex when the attack happened,” he stated. “We woke up the next day to hear that the Assembly had been bombed. I was not privy to any information about it.”
Ehie also pointed out that, during investigations, security operatives had claimed to have seen the convoy of the Speaker leaving the Assembly complex on the night of the bombing, further suggesting that the Speaker might have been involved in the incident.
Adding fuel to the fire, Ehie provided further details about his relationship with George Nwaeke, who had resigned as Head of Service just days before the alleged bombing. According to Ehie, Nwaeke’s resignation was prompted by a financial dispute with the governor. After submitting his resignation letter on March 24, 2025, Nwaeke allegedly approached the governor, asking for money for a new house and other personal needs. Ehie described Nwaeke as a man who was never content with what he had, emphasizing that the governor could not have granted his requests after Nwaeke had already resigned.
“Nwaeke is not a contented man. After he resigned, he asked the governor for money. The governor refused because he had already submitted his resignation,” Ehie said.
The relationship between Ehie and Nwaeke highlights the personal and political challenges facing Governor Fubara’s administration. With multiple figures from within the government raising allegations and counter-allegations, the political environment in Rivers has become increasingly volatile.
One of the main issues at the center of the ongoing political tension is the state of the Rivers State Assembly complex. Allegations have circulated that Governor Fubara was responsible for the destruction of the building and failed to reconstruct it. However, Ehie strongly denied these claims, stating that the reconstruction work was nearly complete.
“The job is 80% completed, and the contractor has been fully paid. The administrator visited the complex and confirmed that the work is almost finished,” Ehie explained. He emphasized that the governor was committed to ensuring the Assembly complex was restored and that any claims to the contrary were politically motivated.
In a related development, Audu Ogbeh, a former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former minister of agriculture, criticized the practice of replacing civilian governors with military appointees during states of emergency. Speaking on a television program, Ogbeh questioned the rationale behind such appointments, citing past instances under former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Bola Tinubu. He expressed concern that this practice undermined the principles of democracy and suggested that it sent the wrong message about the capabilities of civilian leadership.
Ogbeh noted, “Why is it that each time there is a suspension of a governor, a military person is put in charge? Do we miss military rule, or are we suggesting that civilians are incapable of governing themselves?” He urged that elected leaders must be more responsible and refrain from behavior that could lead to the imposition of military rule.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Police Command has ramped up security measures across the state ahead of the Eid-el-Fitr celebrations. In a statement, the State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, revealed that the police had intensified patrols, surveillance, and intelligence gathering in all parts of the state. The Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, had directed all Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), and Tactical Units to focus on preventing any potential security threats during the festive period.
