• God saved me from kidnappers, says Amaewhule
Eleven days after the end of the six-month emergency rule imposed by President Bola Tinubu on March 18, 2025, the political atmosphere in the state remains charged and far from peaceful.
Since September 18, 2025, when the President announced the end of the emergency rule, the camps loyal to the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, have yet to attend state public functions with Governor Siminalayi Fubara. There’s still an atmosphere of political mistrust among the major political actors.
Checks by The Guardian showed that the mood from both camps is apparently still heavy, though Fubara’s camp has demonstrated openness and peaceful demeanour.
The President recently said that the emergency rule was put in place to address the political standoff between Fubara and the state legislature, which had disrupted governance and led to violent clashes.
Declaring the end of emergency rule, the President said from the intelligence he had, there was a groundswell of a new spirit of understanding, a robust readiness, and potent enthusiasm on the part of all the stakeholders in Rivers State for an immediate return to democratic governance.
Fubara also assured that peace had returned and that all parties had agreed to work together in the interest of the state.
But findings showed a frosty relationship between the governor, the local council chairmen and the House of Assembly members.
However, observations since the end of the regime, especially during a Church Service in commemoration of the 65th Independence Anniversary of the country at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Garrison, showed that most of Wike’s men are yet to attend state events with the governor. The Speaker, Martins Amaehule, and the newly elected local council chairmen were absent.
Inquiries from a source close to the Government House revealed that there is a silent wrangling going on over the nomination of commissioners.
Though the minister, during a recent TV interview, assured that he would not influence any appointments, especially commissioners for the governor, but inside sources told The Guardian that the reason Fubara hasn’t appointed any cabinet member yet was due to tough conversations going on about the list of commissioners.
Meanwhile, the Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, yesterday, recalled how God spared his life from the hands of kidnappers who attempted to kill him.
Amaewhule narrated a harrowing experience in 2008 when he narrowly escaped death after being kidnapped.
Speaking during the celebration of his 52nd birthday at the Anglican Church, Eliozu, the Speaker expressed gratitude to God for his numerous blessings, guidance and preservation over the years.
He said: “You know, when God does things for you, it’s important to appreciate Him so that He will do more.”
Amaewhule explained that his decision to celebrate his 52nd birthday in church was deliberate and not a coincidence.
“I planned to be in the house of God to thank Him. It’s not just about marking another birthday; it’s about acknowledging that many people planned to take my life, but God said, he is my son, he will not die,” he added.
