Breaking: Suspended Gov Fubara Reacts to Tinubu's Allegations

• Suspended Rivers state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has denied the allegations levelled against him by President Bola Tinubu while declaring a state of emergency
• Fubara, who was suspended by President Tinubu for an initial six months, described the allegation of aiding militant attacks on oil installations as baseless
• The governor also said that the State House of Assembly complex he demolished was being reconstructed and already at 80% completion

Port Harcourt, Rivers - Siminalayi Fubara, the suspended governor of Rivers state, has denied the claim of President Bola Tinubu that he failed to act on the threat by some militants to attack the oil installations in the state.

In a statement signed by his chief press secretary Nelson Chukwudi and released on Thursday, March 20, the embattled governor said the allegation was baseless, stating that the presidency was misinformed about the development and that inaccurate reports were presented to the president.

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Fubara reiterates his commitment to peace

According to Chukwudi, the suspended governor has been steadfast in his commitment to ensuring peace and safeguarding the critical oil infrastructure in the state.

Channels TV reported that Governor Fubara also alleged that the recent tension in the Niger Delta region was primarily fueled by controversial remarks made by Nyesom Wike, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister, during a media interview.

The governor's aide alleged that the FCT minister downplayed the influence of the Ijaw ethnic group in Nigeria's politics, saying this led to strong reactions from the Ijaw leaders, militants and youth groups. He said some of them demanded an apology from the minister.

Fubara's consistency in oil installations' protection

Chukwudi then emphasized that Governor Fubara remained consistent in his advocacy for the protection of oil installations.

He further listed some of the embattled governor's roles in the presidential committee on the protection of oil installations and his consistent public statements, where he always called for peace and economic stability in the region. The statement partly read:

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“As a responsible leader, Governor Fubara has continuously invested in security agencies, providing modern equipment, vehicles, gunboats, and even helicopters to support law enforcement efforts in the state.”

Fubara addresses demolition of Rivers assembly complex

He also addressed President Tinubu's comment on the demolition of the State House of Assembly complex in Port Harcourt, adding that the decision was based on expert advice.

According to him, the FCT minister once condemned the deteriorating conditions of the facility when he was the governor of the state.

He said that after the October 29, 2023 incident, which led to the demolition of the facility, Governor Fubara's administration initiated a reconstruction move and the project was now at 80% completion.

Rivers crisis: PDP governors reject Tinubu's declaration

Legit.ng earlier reported that the 12 PDP governors condemned the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara by President Bola Tinubu.

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President Tinubu suspended the governor, his deputy, and the state's legislature over their failure to implement the Supreme Court judgment on the crisis rocking the state and security report.

The PDP governors described Tinubu's broadcast as a grievous mistake and a threat to the opposition in Nigeria, decrying the president's silence on Wike's role in the Rivers crisis.

Proofreading by Nkem Ikeke, copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng