A FACEBOOK user, Sadeeq Bababubu posted (now deleted) a video which is showing large crowds including men of Nigerian Police to arrest Similanayi Fubara, the embattled Rivers State governor over defying a state of emergency declared by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Since Fubara assumed office, there has been a lingering political crisis between him and Nysesom Wike, the minister of Federal Capital Territory including the state house of assembly led by speaker of the house, Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule.
The user posted the 8 minutes video with a caption that reads; “River state
“Federal government was said to have issues order for Governor Sim Fubara’s arrest due to alleged non-compliance with presidential instructions”.
In the video, the police van could be seen splashing water on the crowards with Fubara in the midst of the crowds. A man speaking behind the camera said, “Nothing must happen to our governor”.
The video has generated 11 reactions, 10 comments , 3 reposts and 321 views as of press time.
CLAIM
ALSO READ: Bauchi Accountant General in EFCC Custody Over Alleged 70 Billion Fraud
FG Orders Arrest of Sim Fubara Over non-compliance of Presidential order
Screenshot of the Post
THE FINDINGS
Findings by The Explainer indicate that the attached video is old!
On Tuesday, Bola Ahmed Tinubu in a broadcast announced a state of emergency in Rivers State over lingering political tussle in the state, suspending the governor,Fubara and his deputy including 10th house of assembly for a period of six months.
When this fact-checker extracted screenshots of the footage,and subjected them to Reverse Image Search, the results led our fact-checker to the original video which was uploaded on Oct, 30, 2023 by X user, @WEchefula.
Another Facebook page, Street Reporter also posted the old footage of Fubara being poured water by the police. The caption of the footage reads, “Police Pouring water and teargas on Governor of Rivers State, Sim Fubara on his way to the state house of the assembly complex”.
Further, Vanguard newspaper published a similar video of 2023 that the footage recorded during gunshots when Fubara stormed the state house of assembly amid impeachment threat.
Part of the report reads, “There were Gunshots on Monday as Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara stormed the state’s house of assembly complex following an alleged move to impeach the governor and remove the leader of the assembly, Edison Ehie”.
“This was as members of the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, have also taken over their assembly premises over the development”.
It was gathered that 24 lawmakers of the assembly have already on Monday morning signed and impeachment notice and forwarded same Fubara”,
VERDICT
The video which shows that the Federal Government ordered the arrest of Fubara is FALSE; as findings show that the video is of 2023 during the impeachment saga when he stormed the state house of assembly.
