THURSDAY March 20, 2025 |
By thenewsdesk.ng
The Federal Government yesterday placed the blame for the declaration of a state of emergency firmly on the doorsteps of suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi accused Fubara of fueling the destruction of oil pipelines by suspected militants.
He said the governor not only failed to stop the assailants, but he indirectly encouraged them.
“There was what I would call telegraphing of the militants by the governor,” Fagbemi said.
“He initially suggested that he would beckon on them to let them know when it was time to act.
“Even if we assume that was just rhetoric, did he come out to disown them when they took action? The answer is no.
“And barely a week after, we saw the vandalisation of oil pipelines,” Fagbemi said.
During his broadcast on Tuesday night, citing security reports, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said Fubara did not take any action to curtail those involved in the vandalisation of pipelines.
The AGF spoke with reporters at the State House in Abuja 24 hours after President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers and suspended the governor, his deputy and the House of Assembly for an initial six months.
But Fubara yesterday pleaded his innocence.
President Tinubu appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas, a former Chief of Naval Staff, as the state’s sole administrator to restore stability.
Ibas was sworn in by the President yesterday. The National Assembly is expected to approve the declaration of emergency today.
