Thousands of supporters, who had thronged Government House, Port Harcourt, on Thursday to welcome the reinstated Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, went home disappointed after he failed to appear.
Fubara was scheduled to resume duties as Governor of Rivers State on Thursday, following the end of the six-month emergency rule imposed on the state by President Bola Tinubu on March 18.
This comes after the President, on Wednesday, announced an end to the emergency rule, which ended the six-month tenure of ex-naval chief, Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), as Rivers’ sole administrator.
Rivers State has faced one of Nigeria’s fiercest political crises, pitting Fubara against his predecessor and FCT minister, Nyesom Wike. Once allies, their fallout over control of state structures and resources split the House of Assembly, sparking impeachment moves, protests, and violence, including the burning of the Assembly complex.
President Tinubu intervened with a peace deal, which failed to calm frayed nerves, before the declaration of emergency rule.
As tempers flared, locals and ex-agitators threatened to destroy oil installations should Fubara be impeached, as threatened by the pro-Wike Martin Amaewhule-led state House of Assembly through a notice sent to the governor.
A day before Tinubu imposed emergency rule, an explosion rocked a section of the Trans Niger Pipeline in the Bodo Community of Gonna Local Government Area in Rivers State. The following day, another explosion severed a pipeline manifold in the Omwawriwa axis of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area of the State.
In a statement on the cessation of the emergency rule on Wednesday, made available by the Presidency, the President said, “The Governor, His Excellency Siminalayi Fubara, the deputy governor, Her Excellency Ngozi Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and the speaker, Martins Amaewhule, will resume work in their offices from September 18, 2025…
“It, therefore, gives me great pleasure to declare that the emergency in Rivers State of Nigeria shall end with effect from midnight today (Wednesday).”
Many of Fubara’s supporters thronged the gate of the Government House along Azikiwe Street, Port Harcourt, as early as 6am on Thursday, arriving from different parts of the state to await the governor’s return.
By about 2pm, when it became clear that Fubara was unlikely to show up, the supporters began leaving in droves, many of them wearing long, gloomy faces.
Some political leaders loyal to Fubara — including former local government chairmen recently sacked after the Supreme Court nullified elections held under his administration — were seen making frantic phone calls as they tried to ascertain the governor’s whereabouts.
Among the governor’s allies at the scene were former Commissioner for Housing, Evans Bipi; former Commissioner for Power, Solomon Eke; former Commissioner for Youths, Chisom Gbala; and Prince Emejuru, each leading their supporters to the Government House in anticipation of Fubara’s return.
Also sighted were sacked local government chairmen Chijoke Ihunwo, Ezebunwo Ichemati, Peter Amakiri, and Promise Reginald.
Pro-Fubara lawmakers in attendance included former factional Speaker Victor Oko-Jumbo, Sokari Goodboy, and others.
Former Rivers State Commissioner for Physical Planning, Emejuru, said, “Rivers people are happy that Governor Fubara has been reinstated. Just look at the streets and you will see who the true leader of Rivers State is. Sim represents the people, and the people represent Sim Fubara.”
On his part, Eke said the organic and unorganised celebrations are proof of the love Rivers people have for the Governor.
Eke stated, “Everybody is happy with what is happening. You can see that it is a spontaneous action; it is not organised. People just came out because of the announcement.”
Meanwhile, no supporters of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike — including the newly elected local government chairmen — were sighted at the Government House.
Earlier, jubilation had broken out among Fubara’s supporters, who marched along Azikiwe Road to celebrate the end of the emergency rule and his anticipated return. Women’s groups, clad in red, pink, and other uniforms, some bearing the governor’s portrait, thronged the Government House entrance.
Three music bands stationed at different points filled the air with tunes, singing and dancing in celebration of the governor’s reinstatement, while some of his allies joined in the festivities.
According to multiple sources, Wike is allegedly insisting that the Secretary to the State Government, the Chief of Staff, and the majority of the commissioners that will be appointed by Fubara come from his camp.
The sources said that had the negotiations been concluded early, Fubara would have returned to Rivers, but that the drama had lasted till late on Thursday.
“We can’t say for now if any agreement has been reached,” one of the sources in Abuja told our correspondent.
However, speaking on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, on Thursday, Wike distanced himself from the allegations, insisting he would not interfere with Fubara’s administration.
“I cannot go and impose anything on the governor. Why would I impose anything on the governor? Assuming I go to the governor and say, ‘I want this,’ will the state collapse? I will not. I have no candidate, and I will not,” Wike said.
Wike dismissed concerns over Fubara’s absence following his reinstatement.
He added, “I am not his (Fubara) protocol officer. There is no law that says he must resume work today (Thursday). He is a governor. I don’t understand the way we operate. Being sworn in today does not mean I will go to the office tomorrow.
“You don’t know what my programmes are. You don’t know where he is. Governance does not mean one must be in the office to govern.”
When pressed further on Fubara’s whereabouts, Wike responded, “I am not his Chief Security Officer. I am not his protocol officer.”
Assembly tasks Fubara
Meanwhile, the Rivers State House of Assembly has called on Governor Siminalayi Fubara to immediately forward the list of commissioner-nominees to it for screening and confirmation.
The resolution was taken during the Assembly’s first plenary after six months of emergency rule and presided over by Speaker Martin Amaewhule at the Conference Hall of the Legislative Quarters in Port Harcourt on Thursday.
The Assembly also called on the governor to submit the Rivers State Appropriation Bill, while noting that members would review how funds were spent during the six months of emergency rule.
In a statement issued by the Special Assistant on Media to the Speaker, Martins Wachukwu, the Assembly gave details of the resolution.
The Punch
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