GOVERNOR Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has described his calm and non-confrontational approach amid the protracted political turbulence in the oil-rich state as a deliberate and strategic decision aimed at preserving peace and protecting national interest.
News Point Nigeria reports that the governor made the remarks on Friday night in Lagos while receiving the Man of the Year 2025 award from New Telegraph at a well-attended ceremony.
Addressing guests at the event, Fubara said his perceived weakness should not be mistaken for incapacity, but rather understood as a conscious choice.
“I chose for a lot of reasons to be weak. Weak because I want peace. Weak because I need to also protect those things that are dear not just to me but to our dear nation,” he said.
His comments come against the backdrop of lingering political tensions in Rivers State, where rival camps have remained locked in a high-stakes power struggle.
Fubara acknowledged that many of his supporters have endured what he termed “special pain” for standing by him during the crisis.
“Today, for me, is a very special day, and also special for everyone who has believed in me. And I know for believing in me, you have a share of special pain,” he stated.
Despite the challenges, the governor urged his loyalists to remain resolute and continue to believe in his leadership and vision for the state.
“Continue to believe in what you believe in. Weakness is a virtue. It pays at the right time,” Fubara added, suggesting that restraint and patience would ultimately yield positive results.
Some sources who spoke to News Point Nigeria described his remarks as a veiled reference to ongoing political confrontations in Rivers, though the governor did not mention specific individuals or factions.
The award was presented by veteran journalist and former Ogun State Governor, Olusegun Osoba.
He was supported by the Chairman of the Board of New Telegraph and former Abia State Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, as well as Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal.
Fubara mounted the stage to loud applause, flanked by a retinue of Rivers elders and immediate past members of the State Executive Council, a symbolic show of solidarity amid the political tensions back home.
In his acceptance speech, the Rivers governor dedicated the award to God, his family, and the people of Rivers State.
Notably, he also acknowledged his predecessor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, crediting him for discovering and supporting his political rise.
The acknowledgment drew attention given the widely reported political rift between both leaders, though Fubara refrained from addressing the issue directly.
By framing restraint as strength, Fubara appeared to signal that his approach is rooted in long-term calculation rather than immediate confrontation.
For now, Fubara insists that what some see as weakness is, in his words, a virtue that “pays at the right time.”