Fubara: Iit’s shameful to see Nigeria’s AGF being biased, shielding culprit – CUPP slams Fagbemi

The Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP, has described the statement by the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, accusing Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara of bombing allegations as an outrageous, baseless hatchet job to shield FCT Minister Nyesom Wike from blame.

Following the suspension of Governor Fubara, his Deputy, and Rivers Assembly members by President Bola Tinubu, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, on Wednesday alleged that the Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Siminalayi Fubara, tele-guided militants to blow up pipelines in the state.

Fagbemi made the accusation while defending President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency.

Reacting, the opposition coalition, in a statement by High Chief Peter Ameh and Comrade Mark Adebayo, said it is shameful to see an Attorney General of the nation being biased and shielding the obvious culprit in this crisis.

The coalition flayed the assertion by the AGF, saying that he didn't blame Wike over supporters' involvement in LGA headquarters bombings but turned around to accuse Fubara of an offense he never committed.

CUPP therefore called on President Tinubu to call his AGF to order, reiterating their decision to seek legal action to quash this latest assault on Nigeria’s constitutional democracy that has great implications for the survival of democratic governance in Nigeria.

CUPP said, “The AGF Fagbemi's decision to declare Wike innocent and indict a governor who is at the receiving end of pro-Wike proactive actions is a shameful discretion of the office of the AGF. Where was the AGF when Wike’s supporters and former LGA chairmen forcefully went to take over the council, which led to the burning and bombing of the council? Why did the AGF not include Wike in the blame? Why did the AGF not condemn it?

“Where was the AGF when Wike supporters went on a protest during which one of the protesters carrying a bomb mistakenly detonated it, which cut off his hands? What did the AGF say, and why did he not mention it?

When the House of Assembly refused to receive the budget, what did he say?

“Soon after the peace meeting was held with Mr. President, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike provoked the air through a media chat, where he abused and threatened individuals, communities, and ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta. Central to that abuse and tribal denigration was the Ijaw Nation and PANDEF. Beyond that, the minister went on to make several unprintable comments on individuals, including our revered late Chief Sen. Edwin Clark and several others. If there is any culprit who has inflamed the political atmosphere to push it to this level, it is Chief Barrister Nyesom Wike, the Hon. Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. Let it be known by all Nigerians that there are three parties in this matter: Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the Rivers State House of Assembly members, and Chief Barr. Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the FCT.

“It was well circulated on electronic and social media that the explosions experienced in Gokana and Onelga had earlier been predicted by Chief Barr. Wike in his media chat. He was quoted as saying: ‘What nonsense is that? Who told you Ogoni people cannot break pipelines? Who told you Ikwerre people cannot blow up pipelines? Who told you Ekpeye people cannot blow up pipelines?' The above statements were set up to create tension and disharmony, to create a perceived state of anarchy, and to make the President declare a state of emergency in Rivers State.

“It is on record that Gov. Siminalayi Fubara made genuine efforts to present the budget as directed within the specified period. He wrote to the House through his SSG, but it was rejected. He went to the House of Assembly himself, only to be locked out by the lawmakers. Following this development, the Governor formally notified the Assembly of his intention to present the budget on March 19, 2025, or any other date convenient to the House within that month. Despite all these efforts, the lawmakers failed to respond. Instead, they adjourned plenary indefinitely and resumed on Monday only to serve an impeachment notice on the Governor and Deputy Governor. These actions were clearly intended to prevent the Governor from presenting the budget, as directed by the Supreme Court, and to provide a pretext for the President to impose a state of emergency, as he has done now in Rivers State.

“We call on President Tinubu to call his AGF to order, and we are also reiterating our decision to seek legal action to quash this latest assault on Nigeria’s constitutional democracy that has great implications for the survival of democratic governance in Nigeria.”