Siminalayi Fubara Counters Tinubu, Accuses Wike of Instigating Oil Pipeline Attacks

 Siminalayi Fubara Counters Tinubu, Accuses Wike of Instigating Oil Pipeline Attacks

Suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has refuted allegations by President Bola Tinubu that he failed to prevent militants from attacking oil pipelines in the state, instead blaming FCT Minister Nyesom Wike for fueling tensions.

President Tinubu, in his nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, citing the escalating political crisis, vandalism of petroleum pipelines, and explosions as justification. He subsequently suspended Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all members of the House of Assembly for an initial six months.

The House of Representatives approved the emergency rule on Thursday, with the Senate later following suit with minor modifications.

Tinubu’s Accusations Against Fubara

While declaring the emergency, President Tinubu accused Governor Fubara of failing to take proactive steps to prevent militants from carrying out their threats against oil installations. He also criticized him for demolishing the Rivers State House of Assembly complex without reconstruction, despite the building being in a state of disrepair for over 14 months.

Furthermore, Tinubu accused Fubara of failing to re-present the 2025 budget to the Assembly for approval, as directed by the Supreme Court. Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, went further to allege that Fubara “telegraphed” militants to attack the state’s oil facilities by refusing to condemn their actions.

---

---

Fubara Denies Allegations, Blames Wike

Responding through his spokesperson, Nelson Chukwudi, on Thursday night, Governor Fubara dismissed the accusations as false. He denied any involvement in attacks on oil installations and rejected claims that he encouraged militants to carry out any form of sabotage.

Fubara suggested that the militants’ actions were triggered by a controversial statement made by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, who declared that the Ijaw people were a “minority” in Rivers and other South-South states except for Bayelsa.

While Wike later claimed his remarks were misinterpreted, Fubara noted that many Niger Delta groups, including the Ijaw National Congress, had strongly condemned the statement and demanded an apology, which Wike refused to issue.

“Most of the Ijaw groups and leaders even demanded an apology from the FCT minister, which he rebuffed,” Fubara stated.

He insisted that his administration has always promoted peace and non-violence, even in the face of extreme provocations. “It is clearly untrue that somebody who has all the while preached peace would be ‘telegraphing attacks on oil pipelines’ and breaching the peace he has worked so hard to sustain,” he argued.

Assembly Complex Controversy

Regarding the Rivers State House of Assembly complex, Fubara explained that he acted based on expert recommendations. Contrary to Tinubu’s claim, he said reconstruction efforts were already underway and were now nearly 80% completed.

He also accused Wike of previously criticizing the complex’s condition, describing it as “dilapidated” with a leaking roof. According to Fubara, Wike had, in August 2022, challenged lawmakers to reject any attempts to renovate the building, arguing that they deserved a more suitable legislative environment.

“Immediately after the incident of October 29, 2023, and expert reports confirming the need for a rebuild, the government promptly demolished the dilapidated structure to make way for a state-of-the-art assembly complex,” Fubara stated.

Allegations of Attacks on LGAs

Governor Fubara further accused Wike’s supporters of orchestrating violent attacks on local government council secretariats during the Rivers State local government elections on October 5, 2024.

He claimed that his opponents, acting on behalf of Wike, vandalized and set fire to several local government offices without retaliation from his own supporters.

“It is also pertinent to draw the attention of security agencies to the fact that the LGAs where those attacks were unleashed are the same places that have repeatedly witnessed violence perpetrated by detractors of the Fubara-led administration,” he added.

As the political crisis deepens in Rivers State, Fubara remains firm in his stance, shifting blame onto Wike while rejecting the allegations made by President Tinubu.

• 
  Celebrities

  Taylor Swift Poised to Smash Stadium Records in Scotland
• 
  Real Estate

  Government’s Key Role in Adamawa’s Sustainable Wealth and Real Estate Boom – Dogara Durkwa
• 
  World News

  Pope Francis to Leave Hospital After Life-Threatening Illness