Key Points

• Governor Fubara denies involvement in pipeline attacks, and blames unrest on Wike’s provocative statements.
• Fubara says the state assembly complex is being rebuilt after expert advice.
• He accuses Wike’s supporters of attacking council offices during the 2024 elections.

Suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has denied President Bola Tinubu’s allegations that he failed to prevent attacks on oil pipelines and contributed to rising insecurity in the state.

Fubara responded in a statement issued Thursday night, countering the claims made during Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency earlier this week.

President Tinubu suspended Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all members of the Rivers House of Assembly in a national broadcast on Tuesday.

He cited “disturbing incidents” including explosions and vandalism of oil infrastructure linked to political unrest in the state.

The president accused Fubara of failing to act on security threats and of violating a Supreme Court judgment by not presenting a revised 2025 budget.

Fubara distances himself from militant attacks

Fubara, through his spokesperson Nelson Chukwudi, denied any ties to threats or attacks on oil installations.

He insisted that he never encouraged violence and maintained a long-standing record of advocating peace.

He argued that the recent agitation by Niger Delta militants and Ijaw leaders followed offensive comments by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, not any action or inaction from his office.

Wike, who served as governor of Rivers before Fubara, reportedly stated last week that the Ijaw people were a minority in Rivers and other South-South states aside from Bayelsa.

Fubara said that this statement provoked outrage among Ijaw groups and militants, many of whom demanded an apology from Wike.

“It is clearly untrue that someone like me, who has consistently preached peace, would be instigating attacks,” Fubara said.

He dismissed the claim made by Attorney-General Lateef Fagbemi that he was “telegraphing” militants as unfounded.

Governor defends decision to demolish assembly complex

Fubara also addressed Tinubu’s accusation that he demolished the Rivers State House of Assembly complex without rebuilding it.

He explained that the demolition followed structural assessments and expert advice after a fire incident on October 29, 2023.

Contrary to Tinubu’s claim, Fubara said reconstruction was already underway and 80 percent completed.

He further noted that Wike himself had previously criticized the state assembly building for its poor condition and even urged lawmakers to demand a new one.

“Following expert reports, the government promptly demolished the dilapidated structure to give way to a state-of-the-art facility,” Fubara said.

Wike’s allies behind local government violence, Fubara says

During local government elections, Fubara shifted focus to a violent incident on October 5, 2024.

He accused Wike’s supporters of attacking several council secretariats, burning facilities in multiple areas.

Fubara claimed that his own supporters did not retaliate and that the violence came from political opponents bent on destabilizing his administration.

“These same LGAs have continued to suffer from violence orchestrated by detractors of my administration,” he noted, urging security agencies to investigate the real culprits.

The crisis in Rivers State has drawn criticism from legal experts, political groups, and civil society organizations, who argue that Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency undermines Nigeria’s constitutional order.

The Senate and House of Representatives have both approved the emergency rule, though the judiciary may still rule on its legality.