In a shocking revelation, Edison Ehie, Chief of Staff to the suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has claimed he was offered a staggering ₦5 billion to facilitate the governor’s impeachment.
Ehie, who was serving as the Majority Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly at the time, made this explosive allegation during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics. He insists he has undeniable proof of the bribery attempt.
“It was for impeachment. It’s here. I have it recorded, and I have printed it and distributed it, in case, in their evil imagination, they decide to attack me or kill me,” he declared, sending shockwaves across the political landscape.
FIERY ALLEGATIONS AND A WEB OF ACCUSATIONS
The crisis deepened as accusations flew. Ehie vehemently denied claims that he orchestrated the October 30, 2023, bombing of the Rivers Assembly complex at Governor Fubara’s behest. Former Rivers State Head of Service, George Nwaeke, had alleged that he witnessed a bag of money being handed to Ehie at the Government House to carry out the act, although he admitted ignorance about the exact amount inside.
But Ehie dismissed these accusations as outright lies, calling them a politically motivated smear campaign.
“I had no hand in the burning down of the Rivers State House of Assembly. Like everyone else, I woke up that morning to hear of the incident,” he stated firmly.
To clear his name, Ehie has taken legal action. “I have already instructed my lawyers to file a criminal libel lawsuit against Nwaeke. He must be prepared to substantiate his claims,” he warned.
Adding another twist to the saga, Ehie revealed that on the same day Nwaeke resigned as Head of Service, he approached him for financial assistance—a move that raises further questions about the credibility of his allegations.
THE RIVERS STATE POLITICAL INFERNO
The political turmoil in Rivers State erupted when Governor Fubara, once a trusted ally of former Governor Nyesom Wike, found himself in a power struggle with his predecessor over the control of the state’s political structure.
As the battle intensified, lawmakers loyal to Wike launched an impeachment bid against Fubara, plunging the state into chaos. The crisis escalated into violence and arson, culminating in the bombing of the Rivers Assembly complex.
In a dramatic intervention, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State on March 18, 2025. Citing political instability and the recent surge in pipeline vandalism that threatened Nigeria’s oil production, the President took the unprecedented step of suspending:
- Governor Siminalayi Fubara
- Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu
- All members of the Rivers State House of Assembly
For an initial period of six months, governance of the oil-rich state was handed over to retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, who was appointed as Sole Administrator.
BACKLASH AND LEGAL BATTLES LOOM
The decision has ignited a firestorm of opposition from various quarters, including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), which strongly argues that emergency rule does not justify the suspension of a democratically elected government.
Despite mounting criticism, the federal government remains unyielding, insisting that the move was necessary to restore stability. However, as legal and political battles loom, the crisis in Rivers State is far from over.
Will the courts overturn Tinubu’s decision? Can Fubara reclaim his mandate? And will the political elites finally resolve their differences, or is this just the beginning of a long and bitter power struggle?
One thing is certain: the battle for Rivers State is a high-stakes game where power, money, and influence reign supreme. And the next chapter promises to be even more explosive.
