A town hall meeting in Port Harcourt on Friday escalated into a tense confrontation between supporters of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and those backing the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, according to Channels Television.
The event, which gathered residents and indigenes of Rivers State to discuss the ongoing political crisis in the oil-rich state, saw attendees openly express divergent views on the turmoil rocking the region.
“Before the campaign proper, we moved Sim from one local government to another, not the Honourable Minister.
“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.
“Even when those who now came around him after he had become governor, asking him not to listen to any other person, asking him not to be loyal to the political party that brought him. These were the problems.”
Following the GDI president’s comments, the Rivers Labour Party Chairman, Hilda Dokubo, who was sitting in the front row, got up and walked out, saying, “I can’t sit here and listen to this.”
She was later prevailed upon by the organizers to return to her seat, as Channels Television reports.
The next speaker was Mr. Kenwell Ibanibo, who, while responding to Mr. Amaewhule’s comments, said, “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 1st impeachment attempt after just 5 months?
“The point is, somebody somewhere who thinks he’s the owner of Rivers State took this position and influenced the impeachment.”
At this moment, supporters of the FCT Minister, led by Chibike Ikenga, the factional Rivers APC Chairman, interjected. They started remonstrating with Mr. Ibanibo, who kept insisting, “You spoke, I didn’t interrupt you.”
Hot words were being exchanged by supporters of both groups, with a Wike supporter heard shouting, “Insult Wike now! Una go still beg, una go still come lie down. Person wey lie down never stand up una dey talk!” To which the now returned Hilda Dokubo fired back, “Him no go lie down! I say him no go lie down! No be Wike lie down for somewhere so!?”
As the melee went on, the anchor tried multiple times to regain control of the situation, appealing to everyone to take their seats.
Even Mr. Jake Epelle could be seen trying to calm frayed nerves as he appealed to the agitated individuals to sheath their swords.
The tense situation even led to the bouncers coming into the hall and taking up strategic positions as they watched the tense situation.
After minutes of shouting and remonstration, Mr. Ibanibo volunteered to temporarily leave the stage for peace to reign. This served to calm the tensions, and the town hall continued.
She curtly shut him down, saying, “I don’t know when you spoke, but I did not interrupt you, please let me be. If I don’t speak for you, I speak for myself.”
President Bola Tinubu had suspended the governor for 6 months following the crisis, which gradually resulted in the destruction of oil facilities in the state.