Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara has strongly rebutted allegations leveled against him by General Bola Tinubu in a recent broadcast.
The response, delivered via a statement from his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, on Thursday, comes after General Tinubu announced Fubara’s suspension and the appointment of a sole administrator to replace him.
Fubara dismissed Tinubu’s assertion that he failed to prevent militants from threatening oil installations in Rivers State. He argued that the unrest among Niger Delta stakeholders was sparked not by his actions, but by provocative comments from Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). During a live media chat, Wike reportedly downplayed the influence of the Ijaw community, calling them a “minority of minorities” and asserting that other groups, such as the Ogonis and Ikwerres, could equally disrupt oil pipelines. These remarks, Fubara noted, prompted outrage from Ijaw leaders, elders, women, the Ijaw National Congress, its youth wing, and even militants, who demanded an apology Wike has yet to offer.
The governor emphasized that he has consistently championed peace and security, citing his public statements between March 3 and 13, 2025, during project commissionings and the handover of an AW139 helicopter to the Nigerian Air Force. Drawing on his past role in the Presidential Committee on the Protection of Oil Installations, Fubara stressed his administration’s efforts to safeguard oil infrastructure and urged residents to refrain from actions that could harm the state or national economy.
Since taking office on May 29, 2023, Fubara has prioritized enhancing the operational capacity of security forces in Rivers State. His administration has invested in modern office and residential facilities, vehicles, gunboats, helicopters, and other equipment to boost the efficiency of the armed forces and security agencies. These efforts, he argued, have contributed to a steady rise in oil production and revenue, as reflected in the state’s growing contributions to the Federation Account.
Addressing Tinubu’s claim that he demolished the State House of Assembly’s Hallowed Chambers on Moscow Road in Port Harcourt and failed to rebuild it, Fubara clarified that the demolition followed expert advice. He pointed out that Wike, as former governor, had repeatedly criticized the building’s poor condition and rejected lawmakers’ pleas for renovation during the commissioning of the Assembly Quarters in August 2022. Following an incident on October 29, 2023, and subsequent expert assessments, Fubara’s government demolished the dilapidated structure. Construction of a modern Assembly Complex is now nearly 80 percent complete, fulfilling long-standing demands from legislators.
Fubara also highlighted his restraint amid provocations, noting that after the peaceful local government election on October 5, 2024, supporters of Wike violently attacked council secretariats without retaliation from his own camp. He called on security agencies to investigate these incidents and focus on the true instigators of violence, particularly in local government areas where such acts have recurred.
Rejecting the notion that he would undermine the peace he has worked to maintain, Fubara stated, “It is clearly untrue that someone who has consistently preached non-violence, even under extreme provocation, would be orchestrating attacks on oil pipelines or disrupting the stability he has tirelessly upheld for the benefit of Rivers people.” His administration, he insisted, remains committed to good governance and the welfare of the state.
