WATCH THE VIDEO HERE Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Information and Strategy, has maintained that prior to the state of emergency rule in Rivers State, intelligence showed that militants were already targeting pipelines, risking a collapse in output across parts of the nation. Onanuga stated this in a reactionary piece on Sunday, titled “Imagine Rivers State Without a State of Emergency.” President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, resulting in the six-month suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the elected members of the State House of Assembly. In a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, President Bola Tinubu revealed that his personal efforts to mediate the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State were ignored by the warring factions. Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the oil-rich state, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, all members of the State House of Assembly, and other elected officials. “The latest security reports made available to me show that between yesterday and today, there have been disturbing incidents of vandalization of pipelines by some militants, without the governor taking any action to curtail them. I have, of course, given stern orders to the security agencies to ensure the safety of the good people of Rivers State and the oil pipelines,” Tinubu had said while making the emergency rule declaration. The development has drawn mixed reactions from several bodies and individuals across the nation. “Impeachment threats might have spurred attacks on lawmakers by the governor’s supporters, while militants in the creeks—primed to sabotage critical oil infrastructure—could have plunged Nigeria’s oil production back to pre-2023 lows,” he added. “Intelligence confirmed that militants, told by Fubara to await signals, were already targeting pipelines, risking a collapse in output and a Niger-Delta domino effect,” he added. The declaration of a state of emergency has elicited mixed reactions from stakeholders. The aide stated that the governor cannot preach peace and non-violence, even in the face of extreme provocations, while also telegraphing attacks on oil pipelines.
Fubara’s Suspension: Intelligence confirms militants planned collapsing pipelines across Nigeria – Presidency replies critics
