The Rivers State Government has denied reports alleging that Governor Siminalayi Fubara ordered the removal of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s official portrait from the Government House in Port Harcourt.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Communications, Honour Kuru Sirawoo, described the claim as “misleading, irresponsible, and inflammatory.”
The allegation, credited to Bestman Innocent Amadi of the Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), accused the governor of disrespecting President Tinubu by removing his portrait, an action the report attributed to “ingratitude.”
Reacting to the claim, Sirawoo stated that the Rivers State Government has no policy, directive, or intention to disrespect the President or the Federal Government. He stressed that Governor Fubara maintains a “robust and collaborative relationship” with President Tinubu and supports the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which he said is already yielding tangible benefits for the state.
“The insinuation that the Governor acted out of disrespect is unsupported by verifiable facts and should be discountenanced,” the statement said.
The Permanent Secretary also expressed concern that a group presenting itself as a youth organization would engage in what he described as “incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated claims.”
He warned that such rhetoric could threaten peace and stability in Rivers State, noting that the current political climate requires calm, dialogue, and responsible leadership rather than divisive narratives.
