Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara returned to the state on Friday, marking his first appearance since the lifting of the six-month emergency rule imposed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in March. His aircraft landed at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, at exactly 11:50 a.m., sparking jubilation among hundreds of supporters who had gathered to welcome him.
On hand to receive the governor were prominent political figures and allies, including Barr. Emma Okah, former Commissioner for Information and Communications; Dr. Adaeze Oreh, former Commissioner for Health; Oji Ngofa, former Nigerian Ambassador to the Netherlands; Sydney Gbara, former Commissioner for Environment; and Victor Oko-Jumbo, former factional Speaker of the State House of Assembly. Also present were Chisom Gbali, former Commissioner for Youths; Evans Bipi, former Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development; former NUPENG President, Igwe Achese; Dr. Tamunosisi Gogo-Jaja, former Commissioner for Education; and several ex-local government chairmen.
Although the Rivers State House of Assembly resumed legislative activities on Thursday, Governor Fubara was notably absent from the Government House, where supporters had camped in anticipation of his return. The governor, along with his deputy, Dr. Ngozi Odu, had been away from office for half a year following Tinubu’s emergency declaration on March 18, 2025, which appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as sole administrator.
The crisis that led to the federal intervention stemmed from a bitter political feud between Fubara and his predecessor, now FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, over political control in the state. This dispute polarized the House of Assembly and deepened internal divisions.
During his interim stewardship, Ibas inaugurated the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) in July, enabling local government elections to be held on August 30. The All Progressives Congress (APC) won 20 out of 23 local councils, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secured three.
In a national broadcast on Wednesday, President Tinubu defended his emergency intervention as necessary to avert chaos, but declared it had “achieved its purpose” and ordered the immediate handover to Fubara’s elected administration. In his farewell remarks, Ibas urged stakeholders to embrace dialogue and peace as Rivers returns to democratic governance.
The governor’s homecoming signals a turning point for the state’s fragile political landscape. However, the deep-seated rivalry between Fubara and Wike still casts a shadow, raising questions about whether Rivers can achieve lasting political stability.
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