• Government House deserted, supporters, entertainers disperse
• Wike declares peace with Fubara, downplays second term debate
• Rivers House of Assembly probes emergency rule
• ADC condemns Tinubu over crisis, calls for Supreme Court ruling
• PANDEF welcomes lifting of emergency rule, urges reconciliation
• Analysts divided over Fubara’s absence
Rivers State’s return to democracy ended in suspense yesterday, as Governor Siminalayi Fubara failed to resume office after emergency rule, leaving jubilant supporters disillusioned.
It had been widely expected that Fubara, who was outside the country during the suspension of the emergency rule on Wednesday, would make a dramatic return to resume office. However, by dusk, he had not appeared at the Brick House or anywhere else in the state.
Earlier in the day, the outgoing Sole Administrator officially ended his tenure and pulled out of the Government House. Despite this, the premises remained largely empty, with only a handful of security personnel and essential staff present. A source within the Brick House disclosed that most workers, including members of the press corps and protocol officers, were denied access until the governor’s formal resumption.
“Nothing is happening in that place now, until the governor resumes. Many workers were not allowed to enter. It is just empty, like during transitions,” the source said.
What began as a day of jubilation in Port Harcourt quickly turned into confusion and disappointment.
Supporters had thronged the entrance of the Government House and adjoining roads from as early as 7:00 a.m., braving the scorching sun in anticipation of welcoming the governor back to office. The gathering, which included top political leaders such as his former Chief of Staff Edison Ehie, Evans Bipi, and former council chairmen Chijioke Ihunwo and Ezebunwo Itche-Mati, was accompanied by musicians, dancers, masquerades, and entertainers who caused gridlock as they performed.
By 5:10 p.m., however, the scene had drastically changed. The once jubilant crowd dispersed in disappointment when it became clear the governor would not appear. Even his close allies admitted they were uncertain whether Fubara would return yesterday or today.
Reporters observed that the Government House and its surroundings, which had earlier been overwhelmed with supporters and festivities, were left almost deserted, with only skeletal movement in sight. Entertainers and pressmen who had earlier gathered also departed, leaving residents questioning the next move of the embattled governor.
The day, expected to symbolise the triumph of democracy, ended instead as a spectacle of suspense and betrayal, with residents anxiously awaiting clarity on when Fubara will officially return to office.
Wike declares peace with Fubara, downplays second term debate
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has announced that he is at peace with Governor Siminalayi Fubara, signalling an end to months of speculation over their political rift. However, he cautioned that discussions about Fubara’s second term were premature.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television, Wike addressed the Rivers crisis that led to the six-month emergency rule imposed and later lifted by President Bola Tinubu. He disclosed that he had been in contact with Fubara and that both had resolved their differences.
“I spoke with the governor yesterday. He told me he was returning this morning. I don’t know whether he has resumed or not, that’s not for me to say. But yes, we’ve been speaking. We have made peace. I don’t speak to a man I’ve not forgiven. I am at peace with Governor Fubara,” Wike said.
He dismissed claims that Fubara was sidelined in major decisions during the emergency period, stressing that the governor was carried along in the process, including the local government elections. He also faulted critics who described the polls as rushed, insisting that the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) had issued timelines well in advance.
“People say it was suspicious, but RSIEC had already announced the election timeline. It was not a one-man affair,” he argued. “Besides, under emergency rule, Mr President had the constitutional power to suspend parts of the law and make regulations for governance. Everything was done within the law.”
Wike applauded President Tinubu’s intervention in restoring peace, noting that all stakeholders — himself, Fubara, the State Assembly, and federal representatives — agreed to work towards stability. He accused unnamed political actors of trying to stir the crisis by spreading misinformation.
On speculation about a second term bid for Fubara, Wike urged restraint. “Let’s not bring up what can cause an unnecessary crisis. We still have two years. Let us focus on helping the governor deliver governance. Rivers people want development, not second-term debates,” he said.
Wike also dismissed suggestions that he would dictate appointments to the state executive council. “I have no candidate. Even if the governor comes to me for advice, I’ll only tell him not to destroy what we’ve built. Move the state forward,” he added.
On leadership within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers, Wike said there was no disagreement, arguing that political leadership was distinct from governance and should not be used to fuel division.
Rivers Assembly probes emergency rule
Despite the reinstatement of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, security operatives yesterday barred staff from accessing the Brick House, the seat of power in Rivers State, following the governor’s failure to resume work.
The development came as state institutions gradually restarted activities after the end of the six-month state of emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu. The judiciary formally ended its annual vacation, which began on July 21, with normal sittings resuming on September 17. The Chief Registrar, David Ihua-Maduenyi, had urged lawyers and litigants to return to regular engagements.
Similarly, the Rivers State House of Assembly reconvened plenary on September 18 under Speaker Martins Amaewhule.
Lawmakers passed a motion to probe the conduct of the emergency rule under the former sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd).
The motion, sponsored by nine members led by House Leader Major Jack and supported by Linda Somiari-Stewart, Sylvanus Nwankwo and others, was adopted.
The resolution commended President Tinubu for restoring democratic institutions and pledged that the Assembly would abide by the terms of the peace parley and the Constitution.
Lawmakers called on Governor Fubara to submit names of commissioner nominees to form his Executive Council and to present an appropriation bill to reflect current realities.
The House also resolved to investigate contracts awarded and expenditures from the Consolidated Revenue Fund during the emergency rule to provide a clear picture of the state’s financial dealings. It further announced plans to outline its legislative agenda for the remainder of the third session of the 10th Assembly.
The Assembly noted that while the emergency rule allowed the peaceful conduct of local government elections on August 30, legislative business was severely hampered, leaving pressing governance issues to be addressed in the months ahead.
ADC condemns Tinubu over Rivers crisis, calls for Supreme Court ruling
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his handling of the Rivers State political crisis, warning that under a democracy, the President has no powers to suspend or reinstate governors and legislators.
The opposition party insisted that the matter must be settled by the Supreme Court to prevent further infringement on constitutional provisions.
In a statement issued yesterday in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party described the suspension and subsequent reinstatement of Governor Siminalayi Fubara as “whimsically autocratic” and unconstitutional. It said President Tinubu’s intervention in Rivers was less about statesmanship and more about political control.
The party expressed dismay that on September 17, the President directed the governor, his deputy and members of the State Assembly to resume duties after six months of suspension, noting that such directives had no legal basis.
“Governors and legislators in a democracy do not draw their legitimacy from Aso Rock. They derive it from the people who elected them. Only a competent court can remove or restrain them, not a press statement or presidential proclamation,” the statement read.
ADC accused the President of disguising political brinkmanship as democratic intervention, warning that the Rivers case would define his political legacy. It argued that Section 305 of the Constitution, which provides for emergency powers, was never intended for settling political scores but for moments of genuine public danger such as floods, epidemics or insurrections.
The statement further noted: “For six long months, the will of the people of Rivers State was set aside. Their elected leaders were, in effect, put on suspension, not by a court of law, but by a President who himself was elected. Now, with the wave of a hand, the same President has decided to ‘allow’ them back to work, as though they were his political appointees.”
The party stressed that Tinubu’s actions had reduced Rivers to a “pacified government” forced to pledge loyalty to Abuja rather than its citizens. It described the President’s early return from vacation as a move to personally oversee Fubara’s reinstatement and project his control, rather than address worsening insecurity and hardship across the country.
Calling on the judiciary to act decisively, ADC said: “The Supreme Court must take a clear position on this matter, which has set a dangerous precedent. In moments like this, the judiciary cannot maintain silent indifference, or history will record them as collaborators in the subversion of our democracy.”
PANDEF welcomes lifting of Rivers emergency rule, urges reconciliation
The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for lifting the state of emergency in Rivers State, describing the decision as a correction of “a troubling anomaly” and the beginning of a new chapter for the state.
In a statement signed by leaders Alfred Diette-Spiff, Obong Victor Attah, Godknows Boladei Igali, and Beks Dagogo-Jack, PANDEF commended Tinubu for what it called an act of statesmanship and welcomed Governor Siminalayi Fubara back to office.
“We warmly welcome Governor Fubara back to his elected office and salute his steadfast perseverance and faith in Almighty God,” the forum said.
Expressing solidarity with Rivers residents, the group described them as the actual victims of the political crisis and called on stakeholders to embrace reconciliation.
“Light has returned and a new glorious dawn has come. Let the bitter pains of the past months inspire renewed forbearance, fresh alignments, and forward movement,” the statement read.
PANDEF urged political actors to prioritise unity over rivalry, stressing that rebuilding peace and stability was essential for progress. “All hearts and hands must join together to put the past behind and work toward the collective good of the state,” it added.
The forum also pledged to support Rivers in accelerating recovery and development efforts. “We look forward to Rivers State’s swift return to normalcy and the resumption of its developmental trajectory under Governor Fubara and his team,” PANDEF said.
It reiterated its commitment to peace, progress, and inclusive growth across the Niger Delta, assuring that it would continue to work with stakeholders to ensure stability in the region.
Analysts divided over Fubara’s absence at Government House
Mixed reactions have trailed the failure of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, to appear at the Government House despite the large crowd of supporters who waited under the scorching sun to welcome him back after the lifting of the six-month emergency rule.
Chancellor of the International Society for Social Justice and Human Rights (ISSJHR), Dr Omenazu Jackson, described the development as “sad” and warned that the governor risked betraying the trust of Rivers people.
He said, “Governor Fubara is at a crossroads. He must either bolden up and defend the sacred mandate of Rivers people or throw in the towel and walk away. Leadership under siege demands courage, not silence. Refusing to show up before an enthusiastic and expectant crowd shows unmistakably the mark of a man in chains; a governor caged by fear or compromise.”
Jackson added that history would only remember leaders who dared, stressing that the people’s mandate was not for sale or surrender.
However, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Eze Chukwurmeka Eze, praised the governor’s decision, arguing that Fubara had shown he was not desperate for power.
According to him, “Those that suspended him for nothing must do some explanations to him for singling him out for this embarrassment… If President Tinubu fails to assure him of his full powers and protection, I will advise him to keep off until the right things are done.”
Eze further urged calm, noting that the governor would eventually address the state and decide on the steps to recover Rivers from its political challenges. He also welcomed the State Assembly’s decision to probe former sole administrator Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), saying it would reveal how public funds were managed during the emergency rule.
Wike warns critics against abusing Tinubu’s respect for rule of law
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has cautioned Nigerians against taking undue advantage of President Bola Tinubu’s respect for the rule of law to disparage his office, warning that such liberties are not tolerated in many countries.
Speaking yesterday at the official flag-off of the construction of Arterial Road N1 from Wuye District to Ring Road II in Abuja, Wike criticised what he described as the growing trend of online commentators freely insulting the President.
“This is a country where somebody on social media will say Mr President is a criminal; nothing will happen. You say all kinds of things you want to say, and nothing will happen,” he said. “Tell me, no matter how people criticise Trump, have you ever seen any American citizen on social media or in public say their President is a criminal? But here, anybody can wake up in the morning and abuse the President, and we are happy.”
The minister described Nigerians as “lucky” to have a leader committed to democratic values and urged citizens not to abuse that privilege.
On rumours about his health, Wike dismissed the speculation as mischievous. He explained that his recent trip abroad was simply to rest after weeks of project commissioning in the FCT, stressing that it was important to take time off.
“So, if the whole place will crumble, let it crumble. Because one has to be alive to satisfy other people,” he said. He added that, contrary to claims, he suffered a heart attack; he was well, remarking sarcastically: “God will continue to help them to have a heart attack.”
Wike lamented a political culture he said thrives on falsehoods and blackmail, urging Nigerians to remain more discerning in the face of such rumours.
