The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has alleged that the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, facilitated the activities of militants involved in vandalizing oil pipelines in the state.
Fagbemi made this claim while defending President Bola Tinubu’s decision to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State, leading to the suspension of Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the state House of Assembly for an initial six-month period.
According to Fagbemi, while Fubara may not have directly orchestrated the vandalism, his failure to condemn or restrain the militants suggested his tacit support.
The AGF stated, “There were what I would call telegraphing of the militants by the governor. When he began, he said he would let them know when it was time to act. Even if it was a false claim, did he disown them? No. A week later, the pipelines were vandalized.”
He emphasized that given Nigeria’s reliance on crude oil, any act of pipeline vandalism is not only an attack on Rivers State but on the nation as a whole.
The ongoing crisis in Rivers State stems from a power struggle between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
The prolonged conflict has disrupted governance, with the state’s annual Appropriation Bill still pending.
Recent explosions at the Trans Niger Pipeline in Bodo Community and a pipeline manifold in the Omwawriwa axis of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area have further heightened tensions.
In his national address, Tinubu highlighted the security threats posed by the militant activities and expressed concern over the state’s deteriorating stability.
As part of the measures to restore order, Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas (retd.) has been appointed as the sole administrator of the state.
The declaration of the state of emergency, according to Tinubu, was necessary to prevent a complete breakdown of law and order in Rivers State.
Ibas, a former Chief of Naval Staff who served from 2015 to 2021, is expected to collaborate with federal authorities to stabilize the state until normalcy returns.
