Edison Ehie, the Chief of Staff to suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, has claimed he was offered a N5 billion bribe to facilitate the governor's impeachment. Ehie stated that the bribe attempt occurred in October 2023, during his tenure as the Majority Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Speaking on Channels Television's "Sunday Politics," Ehie disclosed that he possesses evidence of the bribery attempt, which he has documented and distributed for safety. He refrained from naming the individuals behind the offer but indicated that the bribe was intended to initiate impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara.
This revelation comes amid escalating political tensions in Rivers State, culminating in President Bola Tinubu's declaration of a state of emergency. The president suspended Governor Fubara and other elected officials for six months, citing political instability and recent incidents of pipeline vandalism in the oil-rich state. Retired Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas has been appointed as the military administrator during this period.
The Nigerian Bar Association has criticized the suspension of elected officials as unconstitutional, arguing that a state of emergency does not warrant the dissolution of democratically elected governments.
The situation in Rivers State continues to evolve, with citizens and political analysts closely monitoring the developments.