Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, will address the people of the state in a special statewide broadcast scheduled for 6 p.m. on Friday.
Speaking earlier at the Government House in Port Harcourt, the governor expressed deep gratitude to Rivers residents for the overwhelming show of love and solidarity since his return.
“I was truly humbled by the warm reception at the airport. It was a powerful demonstration of love and unity, and it reassures me of the strong bond between our people and this government,” Governor Fubara said.
The governor, who arrived at the Port Harcourt International Airport at about 12:19 p.m. on Friday, was received by a jubilant crowd of supporters, alongside his wife, senior government officials, and security chiefs. Among those in his entourage was his Chief of Staff, Edison Ehie. On arrival at the Government House, he inspected his official residence before proceeding to his office.
End of Emergency Rule
Governor Fubara’s return comes just a day after President Bola Tinubu lifted the six-month emergency rule imposed on Rivers State.
The emergency, declared on March 18, followed a prolonged political crisis. During that period, governance was overseen by retired Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, appointed by the President as sole administrator.
Ibas formally handed over power on Wednesday night, marking the end of the interim administration.
Although the Rivers State House of Assembly resumed legislative duties on Thursday, Fubara was absent from the Government House despite the massive crowd that had gathered to welcome him.
Former governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, later explained during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today that the governor was not under legal obligation to resume office that same day.
The Fubara–Wike Rift
Governor Fubara’s strained relationship with his predecessor, Wike, has been a defining feature of Rivers politics in recent months.
The rift, rooted in a struggle for political dominance, split the State House of Assembly into rival factions and heightened tensions across the state.
However, President Tinubu’s intervention in June—where he met with Fubara, Wike, Assembly Speaker Martin Amaewhule, and other stakeholders—signaled a possible path to reconciliation among the state’s political heavyweights.
Now back in office, all eyes are on Governor Fubara’s statewide broadcast, where he is expected to chart the course for Rivers State in the post-emergency era.
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