Rivers govt debunks claim Fubara removed Tinubu’s official portrait

The Rivers State Government has dismissed an online claim that Governor Siminalayi Fubara removed President Bola Tinubu’s official portrait from Government House.

The allegation was circulated in a Facebook post by Bestman Innocent Amadi, a member of the Rivers state chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), who accused the governor of showing disrespect to the president.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Honour Kuru Sirawoo, permanent secretary at the Rivers state ministry of information and communications, dismissed the claim as “misleading, irresponsible, and inflammatory”.

Sirawoo said the state government has “no policy, directive, or intention” that demeans the president or weakens the authority of the federal government.

“The attention of the Rivers State government has been drawn to a statement credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) and authored by one Bestman Innocent Amadi, alleging that His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, governor of Rivers State, removed the official portrait of President Bola Tinubu from Government House, Rivers State,” the statement said.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Rivers State Government has no policy, directive, or intention that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or the authority of the Federal Government.”

He said the administration and Fubara currently maintain a strong and cooperative relationship with the federal government and Tinubu under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“As a matter of fact, the State Government and the Governor, His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, currently enjoy a more robust and collaborative relationship with the Federal Government, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Renewed Hope Agenda, which is yielding positive impacts on the lives of the citizenry and the state,” the statement added.

Sirawoo said claims that the governor acted out of ingratitude or disrespect were unfounded and lacked factual support.

“Therefore, the insinuation that the governor acted out of ‘ingratitude’ or ‘disrespect’ is misleading, irresponsible, inflammatory, and unsupported by verifiable facts, and should be discountenanced,” he said.

“It is also regrettable that a supposed body that is expected to promote youth unity and peace would resort to incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated claims capable of heating up the polity at a time when Rivers State requires calm, dialogue, and responsible leadership.”

The permanent secretary urged residents, particularly young people, to distance themselves from individuals spreading what he described as divisive falsehoods.

He said political disagreements should never outweigh truth, civility, and the shared goal of peace and development in Rivers state.

Sirawoo also warned the public to be cautious of provocative statements and avoid supporting “fifth columnists” intent on sowing division.