I am not responsible for oil facilities attack, says Fubara

Chibuzor Alli

Suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, has categorically denied accusations that he orchestrated attacks on oil installations by alleged militant groups within the state.

He also addressed claims regarding his alleged inaction to restore the bombed State House of Assembly after its demolition.

In a statement released through his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, Fubara expressed the need to correct misconceptions surrounding his administration’s actions.

He emphasized that his decisions were based on expert advice, particularly concerning the integrity issues related to the Assembly complex.

It is worth noting that during a recent address, President Bola Tinubu criticized the governor for failing to act against the attacks on oil pipelines in Rivers State.

However, Fubara rebutted these allegations, asserting that they were unfounded and linked to the comments made by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. Wike’s statements, which described the Ijaw people as minorities, reportedly ignited tensions that led to the violence.

The governor’s statement reads, “Our attention has been drawn to a number of allegations claiming that the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, did nothing to dissuade criminal groups and militants from making good their threats to attack oil installations in the State.

There was also another claim 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.”

He continued, “Ordinarily, we would have ignored the statements as mere results of lack of adequate information to the Presidency by those tasked with the responsibility of providing same to guide decision-making, but 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.”

Fubara asserted that he has not been involved in any covert activities encouraging militant attacks and highlighted that various stakeholders in the Niger Delta reacted strongly to Wike’s characterization of the Ijaws. He mentioned that many Ijaw leaders have called for an apology from Wike, but their requests have been ignored.

The governor also remarked, “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.”

Notably, Fubara took pride in his role on the Presidential Committee for the Protection of Oil Installations in the region and has consistently advocated for the protection of oil pipelines while urging citizens to refrain from actions that could destabilize the state.

His administration has reportedly invested in the welfare and operational efficiency of security personnel in Rivers State, providing them with essential resources.

He declared that his focus on peace and good governance in the state has led to increased oil production and revenue for the federal government since he took office on May 29, 2023.

Fubara stated, “It is on record that Governor Fubara acted based on professional advice and guidance.” He firmly denied that he took reckless actions regarding the demolition of the State House of Assembly without plans for reconstruction, emphasizing that the facility is now nearing 80% completion after its demolition.

He added, “It must be noted that immediately after the incident of October 29, 2023, and experts’ reports, the Government decided to heed the age-old demands of the lawmakers to rebuild the facility and promptly demolished the dilapidated structure to give way to a state-of-the-art Assembly Complex.”

However, Fubara reiterated that his long-standing commitment to peace should not be misconstrued as complicity in violence, stating, “It is clearly untrue that somebody who has all the while preached peace and non-violence, even in the face of extreme provocations, would be ‘telegraphing attacks on oil pipelines’ and breaching the peace he has worked so hard to promote and sustain for the good of the people of the State.”