‘We’re For Rule of Law’ – Rivers Govt, Says Gov Fubara Did Not Order Shutdown Of NNPCL, Oil Facilities

The Rivers State Government has issued a strong rebuttal to a false report circulating on social media, claiming that Governor Siminalayi Fubara had ordered the shut down of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and all oil companies in the state.

BIGPEN NIGERIA (https://bigpenngr.com) reports that the fake news came following Wednesday ruling by a Federal High Court in Abuja which had restrained the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from further disbursing financial allocations to the Rivers state government.

Joyce Abdulmalik, presiding judge, issued the verdict while delivering judgment on a suit filed by the Rivers state house of assembly led by Martins Amaewhule.

The court held that monies from the federation account should not be released to the state pending the passage of a lawful appropriation act by a validly constituted house of assembly.

But reacting to the rumour, the state government described the report circulating on social media as “spurious” and “concocted propaganda” from the imagination of the author and enemies of the state.

According to Warisenibo Joe Johnson, Hon. Commissioner for Information and Communications, Governor Fubara is committed to the rule of law and does not rely on unconventional and crude approaches to respond to matters of governance.

The government urged Rivers people and well-meaning Nigerians to disregard the fake report, emphasizing that Governor Fubara never contemplated or directed such an order.

The statement reads in full; The attention of Rivers State Government has been drawn to a spurious news item circulating on social media on “Gov. Siminalayi Fubara shutting down NNPCL and all oil companies in Rivers State”.

The report was not only false, but a concocted propaganda from the imagination of the author and enemies of the State. The story was also circulated by an inconsequential and unverified medium.

Governor Siminalayi Fubara is committed to the rule of law and does not rely on unconventional and crude approaches to respond to matters of governance.

We therefore enjoin Rivers people and well-meaning Nigerians to discountenance the spurious and fake report as Governor Fubara at no time contemplated and/or directed such needless order of shutting down the economy for any reason’.

BIGPEN NIGERIA (https://bigpenngr.com) reports that the development comes after Governor Fubara recently made headlines for his efforts to promote peace and stability in the state, including his “no price is too much for peace to reign” declaration.

The governor has been working to address the needs of Rivers State, including increasing the minimum wage for civil servants to N85,000.