A former deputy chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, has said the suspended governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, was forced to be governor by his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.

In an interview with Nigerian Info, George said Fubara was okay with being a civil servant until Wike forced him to be governor.

He said the fallout between both men began when Wike started blasting Fubara on television over policies he deemed unfavourable to his interest.

George said, "He was the accountant General of the State during the period of Governor. We had met with with him when the whole thing broke out. What is the problem between Wike and his friend? We met with him. I can quote what he said to us, that he didn't want to be governor, that it was his friend who said, 'Look, you are going to take over from me'. Fubara said, 'No, sir, I'm not a politician. I'm a civil servant'.

"You know, he bought the form for him and asked him to sign. Fubara said that 'let me go and clear with my family and all that'. This is the true story. He put him there, he forced him to be there. And what was the quarrel between them? He said fubara told the Board of Trustee members that on every occasion when he made certain, you know, administrative resolutions or approval, or whatever, he would expect his friend to call him to say, 'Okay, no, no, this is what this is. You know, my interest or no interest'. He said he kept blasting him on the radio, television and all that. So he became a little bit unsettled and said, 'Look, I'm not a steward. I am not an infant. You asked me, if you have any disagreement with me, you call for the benefit of the people of river state'. So that that was the parting point, and if that was the quarrel, who started it?"

ASA