AFER months of political turmoil, President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday officially lifted the state of emergency imposed on Rivers State, directing Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to resume duties immediately.
The announcement followed the resolution of the protracted political feud between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, which had paralyzed governance in the oil-rich state since March.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday monitored by News Point Nigeria, Wike disclosed that he personally spoke with Governor Fubara on Wednesday night, just hours before Tinubu’s declaration and expressed optimism that the state was finally turning a new page.
“As I speak to you, as of yesterday, I spoke to the Governor (Fubara). I told him I was leaving that night to come back, and he told me he was leaving this morning,” Wike said.
“So, I can tell you that, by the grace of God, peace has returned. And look at what the Assembly did today to set the tone — you can see peace; you can see we are prepared, for the interest of the state. Let’s move forward.”
Wike added that he had completely forgiven Fubara, stating there was no more bad blood between them.
“I will not engage with a man I have not forgiven. Everything is over. I am not a politician who says one thing today and another tomorrow. We must move forward.”
He also took aim at unnamed critics who, according to him, were attempting to reignite tensions instead of supporting peace efforts.
Despite Tinubu’s order, Governor Fubara was conspicuously absent from public view nearly 24 hours after the emergency rule ended.
In Port Harcourt, thousands of supporters of the Simplified Movement — Fubara’s political support base — gathered at Government House from as early as 6am on Thursday, drumming, singing, and dancing in anticipation of his arrival.
The crowd included sacked local government chairmen and former factional Speaker Victor Oko-Jumbo. Nnamdi Azikiwe Road was gridlocked for hours as the supporters waited.
However, by midday, disappointment began to set in as the governor failed to appear. Many supporters eventually dispersed, some visibly frustrated.
“We came here to show support, but we cannot wait forever. Maybe tomorrow we will come again,” one supporter told reporters.
In March 2025, Tinubu suspended Fubara, his deputy, and the House of Assembly and appointed former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Ibot Ekwe Ibas, as sole administrator. The president said the extraordinary measure was necessary to prevent a complete breakdown of law and order.
Following intense negotiations, a peace meeting was held between Fubara, Wike, and lawmakers at the behest of Tinubu. According to reports by TheCable, one of the terms of the truce required Fubara to drop any plans to seek re-election in 2027 and allow Wike to nominate local government chairpersons across the 23 LGAs, a sensitive point that remains a topic of debate among political observers.
Fubara has neither confirmed nor denied these conditions, and his public silence continues to fuel speculation.
“The people want to see their governor take charge,” said one Port Harcourt-based analyst, Eihemadu Brown. “His silence is breeding uncertainty, and that could undermine the peace deal if not addressed quickly.”