Crisis Persists in Rivers as Wike, Fubara Loyalists Clash in Port Harcourt [VIDEO]

The political crisis in Rivers State took another heated turn on Thursday as supporters of Minister Nyesom Wike and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara clashed at a town hall meeting in Port Harcourt.

The event, organised by News Central and held on Thursday, was meant to promote dialogue on leadership, security, and development challenges in the state. But it quickly broke down into chaos as tensions flared between opposing political camps.

The turning point came when Bright Amaewhule, President-General of the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI), a group loyal to Wike, claimed that it was GDI—not Wike himself—that made Fubara governor.

“There’s no indigene of Rivers State that will not recognize the role GDI played in the emergence of Sim Fubara as governor of Rivers State. Before the campaign proper, we moved Sim from one local government to another, not the Honourable Minister,” Amaewhule said.

He added, “GDI was the group that propelled Sim into being accepted by the people of Rivers State even when he was rejected by the people who claim to be his brothers and sisters.”

His comments drew immediate backlash. Labour Party Chair and known Fubara supporter Hilda Dokubo angrily walked out of the hall. “I can’t sit here and listen to this,” she exclaimed. She later returned after pleas from the organisers.

The argument intensified when Kenwell Ibanibo, another participant, challenged Amaewhule’s claim and questioned the impeachment attempt on Fubara just five months into his tenure.

“I’ve heard the GDI Chairman say they supported Sim Fubara to become governor, but I’m asking you, what did he do to warrant the first impeachment attempt after just five months?” Ibanibo asked.

He continued, “The point is somebody somewhere who thinks he’s the owner of Rivers State took this position and influenced the impeachment.”

Pro-Wike attendees, including factional APC chairman Chibike Ikenga, erupted in anger. Shouting broke out across the hall, with one supporter yelling, “Insult Wike now! Una go still beg, una go still come lie down!”

Dokubo quickly fired back, “Him no go lie down! I say him no go lie down! No be Wike lie down for somewhere so!?”

Efforts by the moderator, civil society leader Jake Epelle, to restore calm were met with difficulty as the crowd grew rowdy. Security agents had to step in and take positions around the venue to manage the growing unrest.

In an effort to reduce the tension, Ibanibo offered to step down from the podium, and the meeting resumed. However, another disruption followed during the speech of Niger Delta activist, Ann-Kio Briggs, who was interrupted by Ikenga.

Briggs stood her ground and replied firmly, “I don’t know when you spoke, but I did not interrupt you. Please leave me be. If I don’t speak for you, I speak for myself.”

Despite the disruptions, the meeting continued, with elder statesmen calling for peace and unity in the state.

Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, a respected Niger Delta leader, advised that reconciliation between Fubara and Wike is still possible and necessary.

“The problem is simple: Sim and his boss had an issue, they can solve it in a closed room. Elder statesmen should call them together to solve the issue. The state is currently being ruled by someone who is from Rivers State. Our economy is suffering today. Let us choose peace — all of us will suffer if there is no peace,” he said.

It can be recalled that Governor Fubara was suspended in March following an escalation of tensions between him and former governor Wike.