The Rivers State Government has dismissed as false and inflammatory claims that Governor Siminalayi Fubara ordered the removal of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s official portrait from Government House.
In a statement yesterday, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Communications, Honour Kuru Sirawoo, described the allegation as misleading, irresponsible and lacking any factual basis.
The claim, credited to a member of the Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), alleged that the governor acted out of disrespect and ingratitude to the President. The state government, however, said there was no policy, directive or intention by the Fubara administration to undermine the office of the President or the Federal Government.
Sirawoo emphasised that Governor Fubara maintains a robust and collaborative relationship with President Tinubu, anchored on mutual respect and alignment with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which he said is already delivering tangible benefits to Rivers State.
He added that the insinuation of disrespect was unsupported by verifiable facts and should be discountenanced by the public.
The Permanent Secretary expressed disappointment that a body presenting itself as a youth organisation would resort to what he termed incendiary language, personal attacks and unsubstantiated claims, warning that such rhetoric could undermine stability.
According to him, Rivers State currently requires calm, dialogue and responsible leadership, not allegations capable of inflaming passions and distracting from governance.
