Samuel Nwanosike, the former Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area in Rivers State, has vehemently denied Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s assertion that he knelt to plead with his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, to resolve the ongoing political conflict in the state.
The controversy comes in the wake of violent clashes that erupted in several local government areas following the recent council elections. In a statement made on October 7, 2024, Fubara claimed he had exhausted all efforts for peace, including kneeling to beg Wike. He emphasized his commitment to maintaining peace, stating, “There is nothing I have not done on this earth for peace to reign.”
In response, Nwanosike characterized Fubara’s statements as contradictory, asserting that the governor has consistently misrepresented his actions regarding the political crisis. Speaking during an interview on TVC’s Politics Today on October 9, Nwanosike, a loyalist to Wike who is currently studying abroad, accused Fubara of pretending to be gentle while harboring a more aggressive nature.
“He pretended that he was gentle. He pretended that he was meek. Meanwhile, deep inside, he’s worse than the rascals that we know,” Nwanosike stated. He labeled Fubara’s claim of kneeling as “a lie from the pit of hell,” pointing out that the governor had previously vowed never to beg anyone and expressed willingness to go to extreme lengths against his opponents.
Nwanosike insisted that the path to restoring peace in Rivers lies in adhering to the rule of law and respecting court orders related to local government elections. He criticized Fubara’s approach to governance and called for a legal resolution rather than desperation in public service.
“The governor should have said, okay, the Federal High Court has given a judgment; I will appeal the judgment. Go to the Court of Appeal,” he advised. “Why become desperate in public service?”