Wike and Fubara Supporters Clash at Town Hall Meeting

A heated drama unfolded in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, on Thursday, as supporters of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, and loyalists of the suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, clashed during a town hall meeting.

The meeting, which brought together stakeholders, residents, and political supporters from across the state, was meant to address the ongoing political tension in Rivers State. However, it quickly turned chaotic when leaders from opposing camps took turns to express their views.

The event took a sharp turn when Bright Amaewhule, President-General of the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI), made a controversial statement. According to him, GDI played a major role in Sim Fubara’s rise to power and deserved more recognition for the governor’s emergence.

“There is no Rivers indigene that will deny GDI’s contribution to Sim’s journey to becoming governor. Before the campaigns even started, we took Sim from one local government area to another,” Amaewhule stated.

He continued, “It wasn’t the Honourable Minister (referring to Wike) who did that. GDI made Sim acceptable to the people of Rivers, even when he was initially rejected by his own people. But now, some people around him are encouraging him to turn his back on the party that brought him into power. That’s where the problems began.”

Amaewhule’s comments sparked a strong reaction from Hilda Dokubo, the Labour Party Chairman in Rivers State. Seated in the front row, Dokubo stood up and objected, saying, “I cannot sit here and listen to this.” Although visibly upset, she was eventually calmed by organisers and returned to her seat.

Another speaker, Mr. Kenwell Ibanibo, followed Amaewhule and questioned the sincerity of those claiming to support Fubara.

“I’ve heard the GDI chairman speak, but I want to ask, why was there an attempt to impeach Sim Fubara after just five months in office? Someone, somewhere, who sees himself as the owner of Rivers State, was behind that move,” Ibanibo said.

His comments triggered an immediate response from supporters of Nyesom Wike, led by Chibike Ikenga, the factional chairman of the APC in Rivers. They began interrupting Ibanibo, prompting him to remind them, “You spoke, and I didn’t interrupt you.”

The argument escalated as both groups shouted at each other. A Wike supporter was heard yelling, “Insult Wike now! You will still beg! You will still come and lie down. Someone who’s still down hasn’t even stood up and you’re talking!”

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To that, an enraged Hilda Dokubo fired back, “He will not lie down! I said he will not lie down! Isn’t it Wike who’s lying down somewhere now?”

Efforts by the host to restore calm were initially unsuccessful. The event’s moderator repeatedly appealed to the audience to take their seats and maintain order. Mr. Jake Epelle, a well-known figure at the event, also tried to calm the angry supporters, urging them to exercise restraint.

Due to the rising tension, security personnel and bouncers moved into the hall and positioned themselves strategically in case the situation worsened.

Eventually, Mr. Ibanibo offered to step away from the microphone to ease the tension. His decision brought some calm to the room, and the town hall continued without further disruption.

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