Rivers Crisis: Fubara, Wike’s Supporters Clash At Medical Outreach

The current political crisis in Rivers State further escalated on Wednesday with reports of another open clash between the supporters of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the loyalists of his erstwhile godfather and immediate past governor Nyesom Wike during a medical outreach.

The ugly incident took place in Eliozu community of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state, with reports indicating that a baby was tear-gassed and became unconscious in the process.

According to eyewitnesses, trouble started when officials of the Rivers State Ministry of Health visited the community to understate a medical outreach for women and children with the Eliozu Health Centre as the venue.

Those on ground told reporters that no sooner had the health officials flagged off the programme than some persons perceived as supporters of Martin Amaewhule, the factional Speaker of the State House of Assembly, stormed the venue demanding explanations for the gathering.

It was gathered taking advantage of the medical outreach venue being close to Amaewhule’s residence, his so-called loyalists insisted on ensuring the programme did not hold as not to give Governor Fubara any goodwill or foothold in the area against their political godfather, ex-governor Wike.

However, reports said supporters of the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Obio/Akpor LGA, Chijioke Ihunwo, loyal to Governor Fubara, were not ready to watch the Wike men take the shine off them.

Effectively mobilising themselves to the venue, they were able to stop the opposing Amaewhule’s group from accessing the venue and this resulted into some heated arguments and subsequent clash among them.

With stones and other dangerous objects being used freely and flying in different directions, the medical personnel had to quickly suspend outreach for the safety and security of everyone present at the venue.

Reports said what could have turned into a major crisis was averted when a team of anti-riot policemen arrived the scene few minutes later, using teargas to put down the situation and disperse the opposing groups.

Though no life was lost in the fracas, inside sources among the rattled health officials hinted that a child was tear-gassed and became unconscious but fortunately was resuscitated later.

Forefront News learnt that when normalcy, the medical outreach was relocated to a state-owned medical facility at the Waterlines axis of Port Harcourt where the programme was eventually carried out.

The Caretaker Committee (CTC) Chairman of Obio-Akoor, Chijioke Ihunwo, while commenting on the ugly incident, accused Amaewhule, the factional Speaker and leader of the 25 lawmakers loyal to Wike, of leading policemen to disrupt the outreach.

Ihunwo stated; “This morning there was an incident at the Eliozu Health Centre where the former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, led some security men to disrupt a programme by the Ministry of Health.

“A few minutes later, some policemen came and started beating up our women, shooting tear gas at pregnant women who were at the Health Centre.

“We want to say that Obio/Akpor Local Government Area will not be under siege. We want to call on the President, Bola Tinubu that the Inspector General of Police and the Minister of the FCT are tarnishing the image of your government.

“We are calling on you to rein them in so that Rivers State can have peace. Let the FCT Minister concentrate on his job in Abuja and leave our dear governor alone.”

Also reacting to the development, Spokesperson for Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, in confirming the incident, said the Police responded to a distress call.

In her brief message to some reporters, Iringe-Koko stated thus; “A distress call was received from the health centre in the Eliozu community today, 24th July 2024, where supporters of two separate political factions were engaged in a fight.

“The police responded by sending operatives to the scene to restore law and order.”

According to her; “The police deployed anti-riot tactics, including the use of canisters, to disperse the crowds”, adding; “An investigation into the matter has already been initiated.”