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.
Explaining their presence, an elderly supporter said women in the state had been praying for Fubara’s return, “We are here to welcome the golden governor, the peaceful governor, the best governor in Nigeria, Siminalayi Fubara. The women of Rivers State have been praying since March 18, when this emergency rule was declared.”
Traffic around the Government House was diverted, with commercial and private vehicles redirected from the popular UTC Junction into the Old GRA axis, forcing many commuters to trek long distances.
Security operatives — mainly police officers and men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps — had a hectic time managing the swelling crowd along the route.
An aide of the governor, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, said Fubara was in Abuja but would return on Friday (today).
“The governor is in Abuja. He will be coming to Port Harcourt to resume work on Friday. That is all I can say for now,” he stated.
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