A damning report by the Coalition of Human Rights Monitoring Groups has revealed that Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara was "wrongly implicated" in security breaches used to justify President Tinubu's declaration of a state of emergency in the oil-rich state.
The disclosure comes 24 hours after Tinubu's nationwide broadcast on Tuesday suspending Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and the State Assembly for six months, while appointing retired Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas as Administrator.
The 58-page investigative report presented in Abuja on Wednesday systematically dismantled claims linking Fubara to militant activities, describing them as "politically motivated falsehoods" orchestrated to undermine his administration.
Key Findings:
- No evidence of financial/operational ties between Fubara's government and militant groups
- Affected communities denied reported security breaches near oil facilities
- Minister Nyesom Wike's "inflammatory remarks" identified as major escalatory factor
"The allegations against Governor Fubara are classic examples of democratic subversion through weaponized falsehoods," the report stated, noting the governor's consistent calls for pipeline protection and transparent governance.
The Coalition demanded:
Immediate withdrawal of unlawfully deployed security forces
Independent investigation into the allegations
Cessation of political hostilities