Fubara links Rivers explosion to pro-Wike protesters

Says it was a ploy to instigate state of emergency

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has accused supporters of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, for the failed attempt in bombing a five-star hotel, the Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt.

The governor said that the move was a deliberate ploy to strengthen the call for a state of emergency by haters who want to undermine the state to achieve their evil plans.

Fubara stated this when a delegation of the Senate Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation led by its chairman, Orji Uzor Kalu, paid him a courtesy visit in  the Government House, Port Harcourt, yesterday.

The governor, at the meeting, also clarified that he is not fighting anybody, but defending the state against predators, as well as protecting supporters of the interest of the state against those who feel that they own the life of others.

Fubara explained that some youths were hired to engage in a protest to demand for tenure extension of former local council chairmen who have served out their statutory three-year tenure.

The governor said that the protesters and their sponsors were aware that some members of the National Assembly were guests at the Hotel Presidential, which is why they attempted to detonate an explosive device near the facility to give reason to support the call for state of emergency when the matter is raised at plenary but they failed.

He said: “As a matter of fact, let me tell you, I know everything that is happening. Yesterday (Tuesday), they (protesters) were aware that you are in the state. So, there was an attempt to create serious problem.

“The idea was that as you were hearing state of emergency, when you return to have your sitting tomorrow, somebody who is from this state, will start the debate. He will now raise issue of state of emergency, and say that after all, distinguished colleagues saw it happen.”

In his address, Uzor Kalu said that they were in the state to carry out oversight duties on some projects under their purview.

The Senator, representing Abia North Senatorial District, commended Fubara for his love for peace, determination to offer quality governance and his ability to keep pace with the right climate to engender economic growth to all residents in the state.