Suspended Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara has maintained innocence in the attacks on oil installations in the State before the declaration of emergency rule by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Fubara in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Nelson Chukwudi, said the Presidency was misinformed by persons saddled with the responsibilities of intelligence gathering.
The statement said: “Our attention has been drawn to a number of allegations claiming that Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, did nothing to dissuade criminal groups and militants from making good their threats to attack oil installations in the State.
“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 the statements as mere results of lack of adequate information to the Presidency by those tasked with the responsibility of providing same to guide decision-making, but it has become imperative to set the records straight and correct the erroneous impression such narratives are creating in the minds of the Nigerian people.
“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 ‘teleguide’ the reported attacks on any oil facility in the state”.
The statement said the reaction of stakeholders in the Niger Delta, especially elders, chiefs, women, Ijaw National Congress, its youth wing, IYC, as well as militants, among others, was triggered by remarks of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, in a live media chat.
“Wike’s remarks dismissed Ijaws as a minority of the minorities and powerless in the Nigerian polity, saying that Ijaws are not the only ones that are militants and can blow up pipelines; that Ogonis, Ikwerres, and others are also militants and can as well blow up pipelines.
“Most of the Ijaw groups and leaders even demanded an apology from the FCT Minister, which he rebuffed.
“Available public records show that Governor Fubara, on several occasions and at every forum, including all the project commissioning events as well as the handover of the AW139 Helicopter to the Nigerian Air Force, between March 3 and 13, 2025, made it clear that his administration was committed to the peace, security, and safety of oil facilities in the State.”
The statement added that Fubara was fond of recalling his pivotal role as a member of the Presidential Committee on the Protection of Oil Installations in the region, and repeatedly emphasized the need to protect oil pipelines and other facilities in the state. It said the suspended Rivers governor urged his supporters and the people of the state to avoid acts capable of destabilizing the state or sabotaging the nation’s economy.
“Since inception as the Chief Executive of Rivers State, Governor Fubara has prioritized investment in upscaling the welfare and operational equipment of all personnel and arms of the Armed Forces and security agencies in the state by building livable office and residential accommodation for officers and men and donating vehicles, gunboats, helicopters, and other critical needs of the formations to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in the performance of their duties”.
“His commitment to total peace and good governance in the state has contributed significantly to increased oil production and revenues for the country since May 29, 2023, as the continuous rise in the accruable revenue from the State into the Federation Account has shown over the months”.
The statement said it was not true that governor Fubara acted with impunity to demolish the Hallowed Chambers of the State House of Assembly and did nothing to rebuild the chambers 14 months after, adding that the governor only acted acted based on professional advice and guidance.
