Rivers Crisis: Fubara Responds to Allegations in Tinubu’s Broadcast, Highlights Wike’s Actions

Rivers Crisis: Fubara Responds to Allegations in Tinubu’s Broadcast, Highlights Wike’s Actions

Suspended Rivers State Governor, Similanayi Fubara, has reacted to the allegations made by President Bola Tinubu during his nationwide broadcast on Tuesday night.

In his address, Tinubu declared a State of Emergency in Rivers State, suspending Fubara and the members of the State House of Assembly for six months. He also appointed Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd) as the sole administrator of the state……….READ MORE

In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, Fubara denied some of the claims made by the President. He clarified that the Rivers State House of Assembly complex, which was demolished, was not abandoned but was already 80% completed.

The statement read in part: “First, it is important to clarify that Governor Fubara has nothing to do with the threats by militants and also did not in any way ‘telegraph’ the reported attacks on any oil facility in the State.”

Fubara attributed some of the unrest in Rivers State to remarks made by Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, about the Ijaw people. He stated that Wike’s comments during a live media chat—where he dismissed the Ijaws as a minority and downplayed their influence—provoked reactions from various Niger Delta groups, including elders, chiefs, women, the Ijaw National Congress, and the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC).

The suspended governor reiterated his commitment to maintaining peace and securing oil facilities in the state. He recalled his previous role as a member of the Presidential Committee on the Protection of Oil Installations and emphasized the importance of safeguarding national assets.

Fubara also urged his supporters and the people of Rivers State to avoid actions that could destabilize the state or sabotage Nigeria’s economy.