The National Assembly, on Thursday, endorsed the state of emergency imposed on Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday.
The resolution was taken at separate plenary sessions of the two chambers where they deliberated on the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Prof Ngozi Odu and the state Assembly members.
The parliament backed Tinubu’s proclamation amidst calls from the opposition leaders to reject it.
Fubara, on Thursday, however, broke his silence and debunked allegations by the Federal Government that he teleguided attacks on oil installations by suspected militant groups in the state.
Also, the governor said claims that he did nothing to rebuild the bombed state House of Assembly after he ordered the demolition of the facility was untrue.
Fubara said he acted on expert advice before demolishing the Assembly complex, which was said to have integrity issues.
In a statement issued in Port Harcourt by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, the suspended governor said it was important to put the records straight.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu in his speech while declaring a state of emergency in Rivers berated Fubara for doing nothing to prevent the attack on oil pipelines.
Tinubu also described Fubara as a despot, echoing the Supreme Court, while alluding to the demolition of the state House of Assembly complex, thereby, denying lawmakers a place to hold plenary.
But the suspended governor insisted that the allegations were untrue, saying the attacks were ignited by the comments of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike who during his media chat allegedly disparaged the Ijaw nation.
Fubara said Wike was adamant even when Ijaw leaders and groups demanded his apologies.
Fubara’s statement read: “Our attention has been drawn to a number of allegations claiming that 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 chamber of the state House of Assembly on Moscow Road in Port Harcourt, the governor did nothing to rebuild the facility.
“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.
“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, 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.
“Most of the Ijaw groups and leaders even demanded an apology from the FCT Minister, which he rebuffed.”
The governor continued, “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 emphasised 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 destabilising the state or sabotaging the nation’s economy.
“Since inception as the Chief Executive of Rivers State, Governor Fubara has prioritised 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.
