I Will Not Sit Down!” – Tensions Boil Over as Fubara, Wike Camps Collide in Public Showdown

Supporters of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and those of the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, clashed openly during a town hall meeting in Port Harcourt on Friday, as tensions over the state’s political crisis boiled over.

The meeting, intended to promote dialogue among key stakeholders in Rivers State, quickly descended into chaos as participants expressed sharply divided views.

According to Channels Television, the confrontation peaked when Bright Amaewhule, President-General of the pro-Wike political group Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI), claimed GDI was instrumental in Fubara’s rise to power.

“There’s no indigene of Rivers State who doesn’t know the role GDI played in Sim Fubara’s emergence as governor,” Amaewhule declared. “Before official campaigns began, we took Sim around all the local governments — not the Honourable Minister.”

He further alleged that GDI helped Fubara gain popularity even when he was allegedly rejected by his own people.

These remarks sparked outrage. Hilda Dokubo, Chairperson of the Labour Party in Rivers State and a known Fubara ally, stood up and walked out in protest, exclaiming, “I can’t sit here and listen to this.” She was later convinced to return by the event organiser.

Tensions escalated further when Kenwell Ibanibo took the microphone and challenged Amaewhule’s claims, questioning why Fubara was targeted for impeachment just five months into his tenure.

“If GDI helped make Sim governor, what offence did he commit to deserve an impeachment move so soon?” Ibanibo asked. “Someone who thinks he owns Rivers State influenced that decision.”

This triggered uproar from Wike supporters, including Chibike Ikenga, a factional APC chairman. Verbal altercations broke out, with one Wike loyalist shouting:

“Insult Wike now! Una go still beg, una go still come lie down!”
Dokubo 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 order were largely unsuccessful at first, prompting security personnel to take positions as the confrontation intensified.

Eventually, Ibanibo offered to step away from the stage in an effort to ease the tension, allowing the meeting to proceed.