The suspended governor of Rivers State, Similanayi Fubara, has strongly refuted allegations made against him by President Bola Tinubu in a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday night.
Tinubu’s address, which declared a State of Emergency in Rivers State, also ordered the suspension of Fubara and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months.
In their place, the President appointed Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd.) as the sole administrator of the state.
Fubara, in a statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, dismissed the claims made against him, particularly regarding his alleged involvement in security threats and misgovernance.
He clarified that the Rivers State House of Assembly complex, which was demolished, was not abandoned as reported but was already 80% completed in its reconstruction.
He also denied any connection to militant threats or attacks on oil installations in the state, asserting that his administration had no role in such activities.
He insisted that his government was committed to security and stability in the oil-rich region, stressing that accusations suggesting otherwise were false and misleading.
According to him, "Governor Fubara has nothing to do with the threats by militants and did not in any way ‘telegraph’ the reported attacks on any oil facility in the state."
In his response, Fubara pointed fingers at the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, claiming that recent tensions in the state were a direct consequence of controversial remarks made by Wike about the Ijaws.
He accused the FCT Minister of instigating unrest by dismissing the Ijaw people as a "minority of minorities" and questioning their political influence in Nigeria.
He noted that this statement sparked outrage among various groups, including the Ijaw National Congress (INC), the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Niger Delta elders, and militant groups, who demanded an apology.
However, Wike, according to Fubara, refused to retract his comments, further aggravating the situation.
Fubara maintained that despite the political crisis, his administration remained dedicated to ensuring peace and stability in the state.
He highlighted his previous role in the Presidential Committee on the Protection of Oil Installations, emphasizing that he had always advocated for dialogue and non-violence.
"I have consistently urged my supporters and the people of Rivers State to shun acts capable of destabilizing the state or sabotaging the nation’s economy," he stated.
As Rivers State now falls under emergency rule, the political drama continues to unfold, with Fubara's fate and the state’s governance hanging in the balance.
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