Governor Fubara Addresses Concerns Over President Tinubu's Statement on Rivers Crisis

Governor Siminalayi Fubara has raised concerns over President Bola Tinubu's public statement addressing the violent attacks on local government secretariats.

The crisis erupted following the swearing-in of newly elected local government chairmen, which led to clashes and violence in multiple areas, including Eleme, Ikwerre, and Emohua, with reports of gunfire in Ahoada East.

During an interview on Channels Television's Politics Today, Governor Fubara expressed his unease about being specifically singled out in President Tinubu's appeal for restraint among political leaders. "I do not have any issue with [the President's intervention]. But I am a bit concerned when my name was only mentioned," Fubara stated, highlighting his discomfort with the focus of the message.

Fubara attributed the escalation of violence to the withdrawal of police forces from all 23 local government secretariats, suggesting that this absence of security left the facilities vulnerable to attacks. He explained, "Maybe as a result of [the police] pulling their men out… they [hoodlums] took advantage of the situation." The governor has called for a reassessment of the security arrangements for local government officials, emphasizing the need for reinforced measures to ensure the safety and stability necessary for them to perform their duties effectively.