Suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has rejected claims from the federal government, via Minister of Justice and Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi, that he signaled attacks on oil pipelines in the state. Meanwhile, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), the state’s sole administrator, pledged to protect residents’ livelihoods while cautioning against deliberate damage to national assets.
In a statement released on Thursday by his suspended Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, Fubara addressed several accusations leveled against him. He argued that the federal government is aware of the true culprits behind the attacks and should pursue them instead. “It’s simply not true that someone who has consistently advocated for peace and non-violence, even under severe provocation, would encourage attacks on oil pipelines or disrupt the stability he has worked tirelessly to maintain for the people of Rivers State,” the statement read.
Fubara clarified that allegations suggesting he failed to deter criminal groups and militants from targeting oil infrastructure were baseless. He also refuted claims that he demolished the State House of Assembly Chambers in Port Harcourt without plans for reconstruction. “We could have dismissed these statements as a result of poor information provided to the Presidency, but it’s necessary to correct the false impressions being created among Nigerians,” Chukwudi explained.
The governor attributed unrest in the Niger Delta to provocative statements by Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), who reportedly diminished the Ijaw ethnic group’s political relevance during a live media chat. Wike’s remarks—that Ijaws aren’t the only ones capable of militancy and pipeline destruction—sparked backlash from Ijaw leaders, youth groups like the Ijaw National Congress (INC) and its youth wing (IYC), and militants, many of whom demanded an apology he refused to offer.
Fubara emphasized his track record of protecting oil facilities, citing his role in the Presidential Committee on the Protection of Oil Installations and his public appeals for peace during events like project commissions and the handover of an AW139 Helicopter to the Nigerian Air Force between March 3 and 13, 2025. He urged citizens to refrain from actions that could destabilize the state or harm the national economy.
Since taking office on May 29, 2023, Fubara has prioritized security, providing personnel of the armed forces and security agencies with improved accommodations, vehicles, gunboats, helicopters, and other resources to enhance their effectiveness. His efforts, he noted, have driven up oil production and federal revenue, as reflected in the state’s rising contributions to the Federation Account.
Regarding the State House of Assembly Chambers, Fubara countered claims of impunity, stating the demolition followed expert advice. He recalled that Wike, as former governor, had criticized the building’s poor condition during the 2022 Assembly Quarters commissioning, refusing lawmakers’ pleas for renovations. After an incident on October 29, 2023, and subsequent expert assessments, Fubara’s administration demolished the structure and began constructing a modern replacement, now nearly 80% complete.
The statement also highlighted the peaceful local government elections on October 5, 2024, contrasting them with subsequent attacks on council secretariats by alleged supporters of the FCT minister. Fubara’s camp refrained from retaliation, and Chukwudi called on security agencies to investigate the true instigators of violence, particularly in areas repeatedly targeted by the governor’s detractors. “Security agencies must critically assess these events and pursue the real culprits to ensure justice is served,” he urged.
