CLAIM: Governor Fubara, in a new video, stated that the assembly does not exist. VERDICT: Misleading! The video is not new and has been on the internet since 2024. FULL STORY A video of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara saying that the assembly does not exist has surfaced on social media, suggesting a fresh political
CLAIM: Governor Fubara, in a new video, stated that the assembly does not exist.
VERDICT: Misleading! The video is not new and has been on the internet since 2024.
FULL STORY
A video of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara saying that the assembly does not exist has surfaced on social media, suggesting a fresh political tussle within the Rivers State political community. Posted on the 10th of January by X user @novieverest with the caption, “Sim Fubara is now talking like an APC Governor. The ability to be demonic and in Indaboski bahoose war mood. What cards does Wike have left? Lessons.”
“I determine your existence; I can de-recognise you.
Those group of men who claim to be Assembly members are not Assembly members; they are not existing. I want it to be on record. I accepted that Peace Accord to give them a floating. That is the truth.
These are people that were eating in my house, these are people I have helped paid their children’s school fees when I wasn’t even a governor. So, what is the thing there? Their existence is me allowing them to exist. If I de-recognise them, they are nowhere,” the governor said in the video. It has since attracted about 74,000 views, 875 likes, 236 reposts.
A screenshot of the X post
NDRFactCheck finds this claim to be misleading, as the context and timing are misrepresented. Findings show that the video has been on the internet since 2024, when BBC Pidgin posted it on the 7th of May 2024in its original content on its social media pages.
According to the media report, Governor Fubara was addressing the delegation led by the former governor of Bayelsa state, Seriake Dickson, amidst a long-standing political dispute with members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, and made comments suggesting that the lawmakers exist at his pleasure in the context of ongoing disagreements caused by a peace accord and political tension.
The report reads, “Govnor Siminalayi Fubara tok say members of di Rivers State House of Assembly wey Martins Amaewhule dey lead no dey exist.
Fubara say di peace accord wey im wit im former oga FCT Minister Nyesom Wike na political agreement wey no stop am from doing wetin im get for mind.
E tok yesterday wen e receive delegation from Bayelsa state led by Alfred Diette-Spiff and former governor Seriake Dickson for goment house Port Harcourt.”
The political crisis in Rivers State took a sharp turn in October 2023 when members of the House of Assembly, widely seen as loyal to Nyesom Wike, launched impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara over allegations of gross misconduct. The move led to a series of countermeasures from the governor, including the suspension of some government officials and a reshuffle within the state’s executive structure.
At the same time, divisions within the House of Assembly deepened, with one faction declaring certain seats vacant and openly throwing its weight behind rival political forces.
As the standoff intensified, the crisis spilt beyond the state, attracting national concern. This eventually led to the intervention of President Bola Tinubu, who stepped in to mediate between the warring factions. In December 2023, President Bola Tinubu intervened to calm the situation by declaring a state of emergency in the state, with the governor going on a 6-month suspension, and the administration of the state under an administrator. The president also facilitated a peace agreement that led to the reinstatement of the lawmakers and an attempt to restore political order in the state.
CONCLUSION: The claim that this video reflects the governor’s current position is misleading. The video dates from 2024 and relates to an earlier stage of Rivers State’s political dispute, not a recent statement about the House of Assembly’s legal status.
