The unfolding political crisis in Rivers State took a dramatic turn yesterday as Florence Nwaeke, wife of former Head of Service, George Nwaeke, voiced her distress over her husband’s sudden disappearance.
Speaking to journalists last night, a visibly shaken Mrs Nwaeke expressed deep concern for her husband’s safety, revealing that she had lost contact with him and had no idea of his current whereabouts.
Overcome with fear and uncertainty, she made an urgent plea for assistance.
“When he got to Abuja, he called to say he had landed. I was relieved and thanked God,” she recalled.
However, the situation took an unexpected twist when she began receiving calls informing her that her husband had participated in a televised interview.
“I was confused. I asked, ‘What interview? Interview for what?’ Then I saw the clips circulating online. I couldn’t believe it. I said, ‘That is not my husband.’”
Desperate to confirm his safety, she recounted how she tried reaching him but received no response.
READ ALSO: Fubara denies ex-HoS allegations as baseless
“I sent him messages asking, ‘Are you under duress? Have they kidnapped you? Talk to me now. Why are you not responding?’ But he didn’t reply. His numbers are no longer going through.”
Fighting back tears, she made a fervent appeal to the public.
“Oh Jesus, help me. Nigerians, please help me. My husband is in danger. I don’t know where he is or what is happening to him.”
Her outcry has added another layer of tension to the already charged political atmosphere in Rivers State, leaving many questioning the circumstances surrounding Nwaeke’s sudden and unexpected public statements.
Nwaeke’s wife’s plea comes hours after he accused his principal, Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, of engaging in clandestine political dealings and inciting militant activities.
In his earlier interview, Mr Nwaeke had alleged that Governor Fubara was plotting to back Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed in the 2027 presidential race and had engaged in meetings to encourage attacks on oil infrastructure and other key assets in the state.
Following the interview, Mrs Nwaeke took to social media, pleading with Governor Fubara to intervene in what she described as a troubling situation involving her husband.
“Governor, help me. My husband is in trouble,” she said in the video. “He is in trouble,” she reiterated, adding that her husband had been forced to resign under duress.
She claimed that Mr Nwaeke was being coerced into making confessions about events he had no involvement in and had only stepped down from his position to avoid further complications.
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Beyond her online plea, Mrs Nwaeke also reportedly reached out directly to the governor, urging him to intervene.
Fubara responds
Reacting to the situation, Governor Fubara dismissed Mr Nwaeke’s allegations as baseless, suggesting that he had been influenced by external forces to fabricate claims.
“The truth is that Dr Nwaeke has been compromised, and whatever he is saying is only aimed at fulfilling his promise to those who may have paid or coerced him to lie against me,” Fubara stated in a release.
To reinforce his stance, the governor shared purported screenshots of conversations between Mr Nwaeke and his Chief of Staff, Ederson Ehie.
The messages allegedly showed Mr Nwaeke soliciting financial support and assistance in exchange for his continued loyalty, citing his N500,000 salary as insufficient to cover his expenses.
As political tensions escalate in Rivers State, the conflicting narratives surrounding Mr Nwaeke’s accusations and his wife’s appeal add further complexity to the ongoing power struggle.
