WHAT was meant to be a moment of celebration and renewed confidence in Rivers State politics turned into a day of frustration on Thursday, as thousands of supporters of Governor Siminalayi Fubara left the Government House, Port Harcourt, disappointed after the governor failed to appear as expected.
News Point Nigeria reports that the crowds of enthusiastic loyalists had gathered at the entrance of the Government House as early as 6:00 a.m., some arriving from remote parts of the state.
They came to welcome the governor following the formal lifting of the six-month state of emergency by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu a move many had seen as a political victory for Fubara after months of bitter hostilities with a faction of the state House of Assembly loyal to Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
For over six hours, the expectant supporters, which included youths, women’s groups, and political associates waited in the sweltering sun outside the Government House, chanting solidarity songs and hoping to catch a glimpse of the governor.
By midday, frustration began to set in. By 12:00pm – 1:00pm, many began dispersing after receiving no official word on the governor’s arrival.
Some key political figures, including former Obio/Akpor LG chairman, Chijoke Ihunwo, and former Port Harcourt City LG boss, Ezebunwo Itche-Mati, were spotted making frantic phone calls, trying to confirm the governor’s movements. By 3:00pm, his whereabouts were still unknown.
Several supporters, visibly dejected, expressed their disappointment to reporters.
“We have been here since morning. We are hungry. If the governor eventually comes, we will return, but for now, we are going home,” one supporter said as he left the venue.
Notably absent were supporters of Nyesom Wike and the newly elected local government chairmen, an indication that the political standoff in Rivers remains tense despite the end of emergency rule.
The gathering came less than 24 hours after President Tinubu formally lifted the emergency rule imposed in March, which dissolved political structures and installed retired Rear Admiral Ibas as administrator to restore calm in the oil-rich state.
The state of emergency had been triggered by a fierce power tussle between Governor Fubara and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to Wike. The standoff had paralyzed governance and threatened security in the state for months.
Tinubu’s latest proclamation is widely seen as a chance to restore full democratic governance and political stability in Rivers, but Thursday’s events show that uncertainty still clouds the state’s political landscape.
The governor’s failure to make a public appearance has fueled speculation among political observers.
Some believe Fubara might be holding strategic consultations with allies ahead of what is expected to be a turbulent return to full governance. Others suggest security concerns might have influenced his absence.
For now, the mood in Port Harcourt remains one of cautious optimism and lingering anxiety as Rivers State braces for the next phase of its political drama.