The suspended Rivers state Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has absolved himself of any blame for the explosion of oil pipelines in the state, which prompted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a state of emergency on Tuesday.

Tinubu openly blamed Fubara for doing nothing to dissuade criminal groups and militants from making good their threats to attack oil installations in the State.

The President also claimed 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.

Responding to these allegations, the Governor through his press secretary, Nelson Chukwudi in a statement on thursday in Port Harcourt said lack of adequate information to the Presidency by those tasked with the responsibility of providing same to guide decision-making, was why the President acted the way he did.

“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.

“It is on record that 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 by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, in a live media chat, during which he 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”.

Fubara said that most of the Ijaw groups and leaders even demanded an apology from the FCT Minister, which he rebuffed.

The stayement said that 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.

“He often recalled 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, urging his supporters and the people of the State to avoid acts capable of destabilizing the State or sabotaging the nation’s economy”.

It said 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.



https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/03/fubara-exonerate-self-from-pipeline-vandalism-blames-wike-for-crisis-in-rivers/