Abuja blames Fubara for latest pipeline bombings, absolves Wike of responsibility in Rivers impasse
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Federal Attorney General and Justice Minister Lateef Fagbemi has heaped the blame for the latest pipeline bombings in Rivers on suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and disclosed that federal allocation to the state will be released to the Sole Administrator appointed by President Bola Tinubu.
He absolved Nyesom Wike of responsibility in the impasse in Rivers, a state Wike governed between 2015 and 2023, after which Tinubu appointed him Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister.
Fagbemi, who spoke in Abuja on Wednesday – the day Tinubu swore Ibok-Étè Ibas into office as Rivers Administrator – accused Fubara of fueling the destruction of oil pipelines by suspected militants.
Ibas, a retired Vice Admiral, was once Chief of Naval Staff in the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Fagbemi said Fubara not only failed to stop the bombers, he indirectly encouraged them.
“There was what I would call telegraphing of the militants by the Governor,” he reiterated, per The Nation.
“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.”
Tinubu in his broadcast on Tuesday night on the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers, cited security reports for the decision and said Fubara did not take any action to curtail those involved in the vandalisation of pipelines.
However, Fubara has pleaded his innocence in the explosions on Tuesday at Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) around Bodo, Gokana Council in Ogoniland and at a pipeline in the Omwawriwa axis, Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Council – both in Rivers.
Fagbemi absolves Wike of responsibility in Rivers brouhaha
Fagbemi absolved Wike of responsibility in the fiasco in Rivers, insisting that the Supreme Court ruling in the case did not implicate him.
His words: “There are occasions when, especially when it comes to national issues, we have to come out plainly and sincerely.
“Where do you put the Minister of FCT in this case? Was he the one who asked for the demolition of the House of Assembly?
“Was he the one who said the Governor should not present his budget to the House of Assembly?
“Was he the one who advised the Governor not to go through the House of Assembly for purposes of ratifying the Commissioner nominees?
“The FCT Minister did not feature. Assuming he featured, he would have featured maybe on the side of the legislators.”
On Rivers allocation frozen by the Supreme Court, Fagbemi explained that it would be in order to release the fund for the smooth running of the state.
“An extraordinary situation has arisen in River. When the Administrator comes, he may request for this fund, and to me, it will be in order for the release of that fund because of the extraordinary situation.”
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