The Rivers State Government has shot down rumours that it is planning to shut down oil production in the state over Wednesday’s judgment that barred the Federal Government and its agencies from releasing the state’s monthly allocation.
The States Commissioner for Information and Communication, Warisenibo Joe Johnson described the report on social media as ‘false’.
He said, “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 concocted propaganda from the imagination of the author and enemies of the State. The story was also circulated by an inconsequential and unverified medium.
Johnson affirmed that 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.”
Naija Daily News gathered that the rumour gained wind amidst the ongoing faceoff between Governor Fubara and his estranged former godfather and predecessor, Nyesom Wike, over the control of the state’s political structure.
It would be recalled that 27 of 31 members of the House of Assembly, led by Speaker, Martins Amaehule, who are loyal to Wike, had challenged Fubara’s 2024 Appropriation Bill, which was presented to just four of the 31-member House.
Consequently, upon the legal tussle, an Abuja High Court ruled that the budget was illegal, directing the governor to represent the financial proposal to the de facto leader of the house.
