The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has confirmed that Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, is prepared to return to Port Harcourt following the suspension of the six-month emergency rule imposed on the state.
President Bola Tinubu had in March suspended Fubara, his deputy, Mrs. Ngozi Odu, and members of the state House of Assembly after a protracted political crisis between the governor and his predecessor escalated. The intervention led to the imposition of emergency rule and the appointment of a military administrator to manage state affairs.
Fubara was not in Nigeria when Tinubu formally lifted the emergency rule on Wednesday, but Wike revealed during a Channels Television interview on Thursday that he had spoken with the governor, who is now ready to resume his duties as chief executive of the state.
According to Wike, he has reconciled with Fubara and put aside their political differences. He insisted that the conflict between him and his successor no longer exists.
“I have already said that we’ve been speaking. 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,” Wike stated.
He went further to criticize certain individuals whom he accused of exploiting legal loopholes and fueling unrest rather than working toward peace. “Unfortunately, there are people who do not want peace. Today, I watched individuals twisting the law, claiming illegality in the conduct of local government elections. But ask them: what did they do to prevent such illegality in the first place? When you hear them pontificating and shouting, you would think they have solutions—yet they do nothing except attempt to create crisis. The president has done a great deal for us, and peace has been restored,” he said.
Wike’s comments appear to signal a new chapter in the state’s turbulent politics, as the governor prepares to return to his office after months of absence and suspended governance.
What You Should Know
Governor Sim Fubara of Rivers State is set to return following the lifting of emergency rule by President Bola Tinubu, which had sidelined him, his deputy, and lawmakers for six months.
FCT Minister Nyesom Wike confirmed Fubara’s readiness and declared their political feud resolved, stressing that peace has now been restored in the state.
