Gov. Fubara’s Chief Of Staff, Accuses Speaker Amaewhule of Responsible RHAC Burnt
In what looks like addressing the real issue concerning the Rivers State House of Assembly burnt, Edison Ehie, the Chief of Staff to the suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, has accused the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly Martin Amaewhule, a loyalist of the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, of being responsible for the burning of the Assembly complex on October 29, 2024.
Speaking on Channels Television’s programme, Ehie categorically denied any involvement in the destruction of the legislative building.
He stated that he had no prior knowledge of the incident and only became aware of it in the early hours of October 30 when he learnt of the Assembly’s demolition.
He said, “I have said categorically that I have no hand, I was not privy, no information, I woke up in the early hours of 30th of October to hear that the Assembly had been demolished.
“But it is important to clarify events leading to that day. I was leader of the 10th Rivers State House of Assembly under Martin Amaewhule as Speaker. I was in the ninth Assembly, I was also in the eighth Assembly.”
Ehie, a former leader of the 10th Rivers State House of Assembly, provided a detailed account of events leading up to the fire.
He recalled that the Assembly had screened commissioners on Thursday, October 26, and had adjourned thereafter.
According to him, the adjournment was not set for October 30, disputing claims that the legislators were scheduled to reconvene on the day of the fire.
“In the ninth assembly, I was the Deputy Speaker of the Rivers House of Assembly while Martin Amaewhule was leader of the House.
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“So, we have built this relationship and the House has its procedures guided by the Constitution and Standing Order.
So, we had finished screening commissioners on Thursday when we had adjourned to a later date. Everyone went home peacefully, happily, celebrated those who had made the list.
“Let me state it clearly, we didn’t adjourn to 30th of October after we had finished sitting on Thursday of the previous week,” Ehie said.
He emphasised that access to the Assembly complex was strictly controlled, particularly after 6pm, when only the Speaker was permitted entry under emergency circumstances.
He pointed out that the fire occurred on a Sunday, a non-working day, and cited court documents and witness statements from police officers and Civil Defence agents, who confirmed that they saw the Speaker’s convoy enter the premises on the night of October 29.
He said, “Another very crystal point is that in the House of Assembly, after every sitting, whether there is sitting or not, after every working day, there is usually the security under the authority of Mr. Speaker.
“When it is 6pm, nobody has access to the House of Assembly complex except Mr. Speaker on any emergency.
“Meanwhile, the 29th of October was on a Sunday. If the Assembly was burnt down on a Sunday, go through the issues that were raised that day.
“In the case filed before Justice E. A. Obile of the Federal High Court and before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, we had over 10 witnesses including men of the Nigeria Police who like ASP, inspector and other ranking police officers, including Civil Defence security agents that were at the gate.”
He pointed out that the Rivers State House of Assembly shares proximity with the Nigeria Police Headquarters on Moscow Road, Port Harcourt.
Ehie argued that such a high-profile incident could not have occurred unnoticed by law enforcement, further implicating Amaewhule, who was the Speaker at the time of the fire.
He stressed, “They stated clearly in their witness statements of oath that they saw the convoy of the Speaker drive in and that is why they allowed him access on the night of 29th of October.
“So, it was very clear through their witness statements, that they allowed him access that Sunday night, not even on a working day.
“Don’t forget, the House of Assembly is sharing proximity with the Nigeria Police Headquarters in Rivers, MoscowRoad. So, it is not possible to perpetrate any offence by way of gangsterism or any of that.
“That is why they said that it was a convoy of the Speaker. Who was the Speaker as of that October 29? That is why they opened the entrance gates and he drove in with his convoy. It is only the Speaker that has access to the Rivers State House of Assembly after working hours.”
When pressed on whether he was directly accusing Amaewhule of orchestrating the arson, Ehie said that Amaewhule should be asked what happened to the House of Assembly complex.
“Because he was the Speaker then and because he was the only one who has access whether in the wee hours, not to talk of a weekend.
“Once it is over 6pm, there is only one person who, for emergency, can access the Rivers State House of Assembly complex, and it is the Speaker, being the presiding officer. I have been the Deputy Speaker and it is there.”
The allegations have intensified the political crisis in Rivers State, where factions loyal to Governor Fubara and Wike have been locked in a power struggle.
Meanwhile, Amaewhule has yet to respond publicly to the accusations.
