Nelson Chukwudi, the chief press secretary (CPS) to Siminalayi Fubara, the suspended governor of Rivers, says his principal has no hands in the attacks on oil installations in the state.
In a statement issued on Thursday night, Chukwudi said the claim that Fubara did nothing to dissuade criminal groups and militants from attacking oil facilities in the state is false.
In the past few days, oil installations have been targeted in attacks in Rivers which have been linked to the political crisis in the south-south state.
Chukwudi said the presidency was not provided with “adequate information” on the development in Rivers.
“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,” the statement reads.
“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 ‘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.
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“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.
“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.”
On the demolition of the Rivers assembly, Chukwudi said President Bola Tinubu was not adequately informed when he stated that after demolishing the chamber, Fubara took no steps to rebuild the facility.
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“Let it be clarified that the former Governor and now FCT Minister repeatedly criticized the dilapidated and leaking Assembly Complex, and during the commissioning of the Assembly Quarters in August 2022, challenged the lawmakers to take responsibility for the poor state of the edifice, rejecting requests to rebuild it to ensure a conducive legislative environment for the lawmakers,” he said.
Chukwudi added that the state house of assembly has been rebuilt and is 80 percent complete.
On Tuesday, Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers state, citing the protracted political crisis.
The president suspended Fubara, Ngozi Odu, his deputy, and all house assembly members, for six months.
Tinubu also appointed Ibok-Ete Ibas, a retired vice-admiral, as the sole administrator for Rivers.
On Thursday, the senate and the house of representatives controversially approved Tinubu’s request for emergency rule in the south-south state.
