Victor EzejaHuman Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has faulted allegations made by Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, and Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, linking suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, to militant activities in the Niger Delta.
The rights group, in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday, described the allegations by these key federal government officials as unsubstantiated and reckless.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe AGF and Tinubu’s media aide had alleged that Governor Fubara had ties to militant groups responsible for recent attacks on oil and gas infrastructure in Rivers State.
HURIWA described the accusations as “a calculated attempt to smear the governor’s reputation without any shred of credible evidence.”
Recall that the AGF had last week accused Fubara of allegedly ‘tele-guiding militants’ to sabotage oil installations, a claim which has since sparked outrage. Echoing Fagbemi’s position, Onanuga, in an opinion piece, defended the federal government’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers, suggesting that intelligence reports pointed to militant threats orchestrated by the governor.
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Reacting, HURIWA criticised their reliance on the so-called “intelligence” without presenting verifiable proof to back such weighty claims. “These are serious allegations that can destabilize not only Rivers State but the entire Niger Delta, yet no concrete evidence has been made public to substantiate them,” the group said in the statement signed by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko.
Th rights group accused the federal government of attempting to label Governor Fubara—a man it described as peaceful and committed to governance—as a war monger, noting that such tactics risk inciting unnecessary tension in an already fragile political climate.
Governor Fubara in a statement earlier on Monday, denied any links to militant groups and warned against efforts to associate him with violence.
Fubara described as fake and malicious a series of viral videos alleging explosions on oil and gas facilities in Rivers State, urging security agencies to investigate the sources of the videos and prosecute those behind them.
HURIWA commended Fubara for his insistence on peace and adherence to constitutional governance as observed in his speeches during public engagements.
“Governor Fubara’s insistence on peace and constitutional governance has been clear in all his public engagements. It is disheartening to see such character assassination being perpetuated from the highest levels of the federal government,” HURIWA stated.
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It also noted that if the federal authorities possessed genuine evidence, they would have publicly presented it to Nigerians, instead of resorting to rumour and speculative intelligence.
“As far as we are concerned, the dissemination of these unproven claims is not just unprofessional but a dangerous precedent in the democratic space,” the group emphasised.
The rights group charged both the AGF and Onanuga to refrain from what it termed “pettiness and rumour mongering,” stressing that officials at such sensitive levels of governance ought to rely on hard facts and avoid inflaming public sentiment.
“It is disgraceful that at a time when Nigerians are yearning for stability and good governance, top officials of the federal government are busy engaging in baseless accusations, further tarnishing Nigeria’s image before the international community,” the statement added.
The association further criticised the federal government’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, describing it as unconstitutional, unnecessary, and politically motivated.
According to the group, the move lacks justification, especially when no clear evidence of war or breakdown of law and order, as required by Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, has been demonstrated.
“The AGF and other federal agents must be reminded that the Supreme Court judgment, which is now being used to justify executive overreach in Rivers State, does not license rumour-based governance,” HURIWA noted.
It urged Governor Fubara to consider legal action against those making the allegations, stressing that even if the judiciary is seen by some as compromised, it is essential to set the record straight by taking advantage of available legal avenues.
HURIWA concluded by calling on security agencies to conduct a broad-based, transparent, and credible forensic investigation into the recent allegations and incidents in Ogoniland and other parts of Rivers State. The group insisted that such an investigation must not be politically manipulated and should leave no room for doubt as to the actual culprits.
“The dangerous game of labeling peaceful citizens as militants without evidence is not only reckless but risks plunging Rivers State into avoidable chaos. Nigeria’s democracy deserves better,” the group stated.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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