Fubara Responds to Tinubu’s Allegations, Clarifies Rivers State Development
The suspended Governor of Rivers State, Similanayi Fubara, has addressed allegations made by President Bola Tinubu in his nationwide broadcast on Tuesday night. During the address, Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended Fubara along with members of the state’s House of Assembly for six months.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, Fubara refuted certain claims made in the broadcast. He clarified that the Rivers State House of Assembly complex, which had been demolished, was not abandoned but was already 80% completed.
“Governor Fubara has no connection with any militant threats and did not, in any way, signal or support attacks on oil facilities in the state,” the statement read.
Fubara further pointed to controversial remarks by Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, as a factor behind recent tensions in the state. He noted that Wike’s comments about the Ijaw people during a live media chat sparked reactions from various stakeholders, including elders, chiefs, women groups, and the Ijaw National Congress (INC) alongside its youth wing, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC). The groups demanded an apology, which Wike reportedly ignored.
Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to peace and security, Fubara emphasized his history as a member of the Presidential Committee on the Protection of Oil Installations in the Niger Delta. He urged residents and supporters to refrain from any actions that could destabilize the state or threaten national economic interests.
