Suspended Governor of Rivers State, Sir Similanayi Fubara, has issued a response to the allegations made by President Bola Tinubu during his broadcast on Tuesday, March 18, in which a State of Emergency was declared in Rivers State.
In his address, President Tinubu recounted recent events in the state, highlighting what he described as the governor’s failures. He accused Governor Fubara of demolishing the Rivers State House of Assembly on December 13, 2023, without rebuilding it, and said that despite his personal intervention, efforts to resolve the issue peacefully had been ignored. Tinubu further criticized the governor for allowing the legislature to be rendered nonfunctional, which, according to him, effectively meant there was no government in Rivers State. The President also cited disturbing reports of pipeline vandalism by militants, accusing Fubara of not taking appropriate action to curb such incidents.
Governor Fubara, through his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, responded to the allegations, denying the accusations that he had failed to dissuade militant groups or neglected the rebuilding of the State House of Assembly. He emphasized that the new Assembly complex is 80% complete, countering claims that it had been abandoned. The Governor’s statement reads:
“There was also another claim that after demolishing the Hallowed Chambers of the State House of Assembly on Moscow Road in Port Harcourt, the Governor did nothing to rebuild the facility. Ordinarily, we would have ignored these statements as results of inadequate information being relayed to the Presidency, but it has become necessary to correct the record and dispel the misleading narrative.”
Governor Fubara denied any connection to the militant threats and the alleged planned attacks on oil facilities, insisting that he had not incited or supported such actions. He also addressed a controversial statement made by Nyesom Wike, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, which he claimed had fueled tensions among Niger Delta groups. According to Fubara, Wike’s dismissal of Ijaws as “a minority of the minorities” and his comments about other ethnic groups being capable of pipeline vandalism had provoked a strong response, which Wike refused to apologize for.
Governor Fubara further asserted that throughout his tenure, he had consistently prioritized the protection of oil facilities and peace in the state. He pointed to his role in the Presidential Committee on the Protection of Oil Installations and his public appeals for unity and security. Fubara also highlighted the steps his administration had taken to improve the welfare of security personnel in the state, including building accommodation and providing essential equipment to enhance their operational effectiveness.
Regarding the demolition of the State House of Assembly complex, the Governor explained that the decision was made based on professional advice. He noted that the dilapidated state of the building had been criticized by Wike during his tenure, and the demolition was part of an effort to rebuild the facility into a state-of-the-art structure, which is now nearing completion.
Fubara also pointed to incidents following the peaceful October 2024 local government elections, where supporters of Wike allegedly attacked and destroyed government properties without any retaliation from his own supporters. He urged security agencies to focus on the real perpetrators of violence in the state and to investigate such incidents thoroughly.
In conclusion, Governor Fubara rejected the accusation that he had incited violence or failed in his duties, asserting that his administration has worked tirelessly to maintain peace, improve governance, and safeguard the interests of the people of Rivers State.
