Emergency rule: Uncertainty in Rivers State as Fubara delays return

Siminalayi Fubara, the reinstated governor of Rivers State, was not present at Government House in Port Harcourt on Thursday after being cleared to resume duties, leaving thousands of supporters dissatisfied.

After President Bola Tinubu’s six-month emergency rule over Rivers State ended on March 18, Fubara was expected to return to his duties as governor on Thursday.

This follows the President’s announcement on Wednesday that the emergency rule will be lifted, ending Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), the former Naval head, who had served as Rivers’ only administrator for six months.

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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).”

Earlier, Fubara’s supporters had celebrated the end of the emergency rule and his expected return by marching along Azikiwe Road in jubilation. Women’s organisations crowded the Government House entrance, dressed in pink, crimson, and other uniforms, some of which had the governor’s photo.

As early as 6 a.m. on Thursday, a large number of Fubara’s loyalists gathered outside the gate of the Government House on Azikiwe Street in Port Harcourt, coming from all over the state to await the governor’s homecoming.

Unfortunately, around 2pm, they started to disperse in large numbers, many of them with lengthy, sullen expressions, when it became obvious that Fubara would not be showing up.

Some political figures who support Fubara, such as former chairmen of local governments who were recently fired after the Supreme Court declared elections conducted under his rule invalid, were observed making frantic phone calls in an attempt to find out the governor’s location.

Former Housing Commissioner Evans Bipi, former Power Commissioner Solomon Eke, former Youths Commissioner Chisom Gbala, and Prince Emejuru were among the governor’s loyalists there, escorting their supporters to Government House in expectation of Fubara’s homecoming.

Chijoke Ihunwo, Ezebunwo Ichemati, Peter Amakiri, and Promise Reginald, the chairmen of the local government who were fired, were also sighted.

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.”

 Tussle over commissioners

According to information gathered, ongoing discussions on significant appointments in the state were a contributing factor in Fubara’s absence on Thursday.

Several sources claim that Wike is demanding that the Chief of Staff, the Secretary to the State Government, and the vast majority of the commissioners that Fubara appoints come from his party.

According to the insiders privy to the development, the drama had continued until late Thursday, but Fubara would have returned to Rivers if the negotiations had ended sooner.

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But Wike denied the accusations in an interview with Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, stating that he would not meddle in Fubara’s government.

“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 debunked 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.

Assembly tasks Fubara

Meanwhile, the Rivers State House of Assembly has demanded that Governor Siminalayi Fubara immediately forwards the list of commissioner nominations to it for review.

The resolution was adopted during the first plenary session of the Assembly following a six-month emergency rule. Speaker Martin Amaewhule presided over the meeting on Thursday at the Legislative Quarters’ Conference Hall in Port Harcourt.

While stating that members would examine how money was utilised during the six-month emergency, the Assembly also urged the governor to submit the Rivers State Appropriations Bill.

The Assembly provided information on the decision in a statement released by Martins Wachukwu, the Speaker’s Special Assistant on Media.

Part of the statement read, “Returning from a six-month emergency rule induced by the political impasse in the state in the recent past, the Rivers State House of Assembly, on Thursday, at its 1st Legislative Sitting through a Motion set the legislative agenda for the remaining part of the Third Season of the Tenth Assembly.”