Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara says he and the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike have agreed to “bury the hatchet” and allow peace to reign in the state as he returns after six months of suspension.1
Governor Fubara addressed the people of Rivers State in a broadcast on Friday, September 19, 2025, where he said the six-month state of emergency rule in the state was challenging.2
Recall that Nigerian President Bola Tinubu had announced a six-month state of emergency for Rivers State on March 18, 2025, because of the conflict in the oil-rich state.
Now that the six months have ended and the President has announced the return of the governor and the House of Assembly members, Fubara says he chose to cooperate with the emergency rule at that time so that peace would reign.3
He said all the parties involved in the previous conflict have calmed down and reconciled to work together. “In the course of the six-month period, Mr. President graciously made the peace process with all the parties successful.4 Our leader, His Excellency, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, CON, all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and I, as your Governor, have agreed to bury the hatchet and embrace peace and reconciliation in the best interest of our dear Rivers State,” the governor said.5
Governor Fubara said he believes that the political crisis rocking the state is now behind them and that peace has returned to Rivers State, but not “without the hard lessons we learned from the emergency rule.”6
Other things Fubara said in his state address
Fubara said that as governor, he agreed to abide by the state of emergency declaration and chose to cooperate with the President and the National Assembly, based on his conviction that “no sacrifice is too great to secure the peace, stability, and progress of Rivers State.”7 He added that he did not bother to challenge the state of emergency declaration even though it was a difficult period for the state.8
Fubara praised President Tinubu for intervening to resolve the political crisis in the state at that time.9 “We have a duty to ensure that the peace we all embrace remains permanent in our dear Rivers State. To those who expressed genuine fears, frustrations, and uncertainty over the nature of the peace process, I assure you that your concerns are valid but there is still an opportunity for necessary adjustments,” he said.
The Rivers governor said he will work to make sure he carries everyone along to return to the path of governance and development by completing the projects he has started.10 “We must rise above bitterness and division and channel our energies to rebuild trust and secure a peaceful and prosperous state for all.”
Fubara thanked President Tinubu, Wike, the President of the Senate Godswill Akpabio, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, and members of the National Assembly for the role they played in resolving the matter.11
‘I am humbled by your love’ – Fubara says as he resumes work after suspension
“I am humbled by the love you are showing me.” That’s what Rivers State Governor Siminialayi Fubara said as he landed at Government House in Port Harcourt. The Governor resumed work a day after President Bola Tinubu lifted the emergency rule and suspension on him, his deputy, and the state assembly members.12
Governor Fubara resumed at Government House with his wife, Valerie Fubara, and the Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu. He appreciated the Rivers people, especially the way they received him at the Port Harcourt International Airport and the way they celebrated while waiting for him yesterday.
“That reception really humbled me. It shows your love, confidence, and solidarity. It’s not just a celebration, because the number of people who came out and the way you celebrated is a reaffirmation that shows the bond between this government and the people, and I want to assure you that by the grace of God we will continue to do those things that make you love us.”
Governor Fubara added that he would do an official state broadcast at 6 pm on Friday and would recognize everyone who gave support to the return to normalcy.13
On Thursday, September 18, a large crowd that gathered at Rivers State Government House in anticipation of the arrival of Governor Siminalayi Fubara was disappointed after he failed to resume. President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday announced that the six-month state of emergency he had imposed on Rivers State due to the political crisis there would expire at midnight. He directed Governor Fubara, his deputy, and members of the House of Assembly to resume their official duties.14 While the House of Assembly had resumed, the state governor did not show up on Thursday.15
Thousands of women, youths, and supporters of the governor were celebrating on the major streets of Port Harcourt as they waited for the governor’s return in grand style on Thursday. The huge crowd caused heavy traffic jams across the oil-rich city as they marched along the streets, singing, dancing, and celebrating the lifting of the emergency rule and the restoration of democratic rule in the state.16 Many of them came to the Government House main entrance as early as 6:00 am from different parts of the state, including rural areas, but they began to leave in the afternoon, with some of them disappointed and not knowing why the governor did not come to greet them or resume work.17 On Friday, some people also showed up at the Port Harcourt International Airport to receive him.18
On the other hand, the state lawmakers who were also suspended along with the governor resumed plenary on Thursday, September 18, 2025, at the conference hall at the Legislative quarters, Aba Road, Port Harcourt.19 The highlight of the plenary was a resolution to probe the finances and expenditure of the state under the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas. The lawmakers also asked Governor Fubara to send the list of commissioner nominees for screening and to forward an appropriation bill for consideration. Twenty-seven lawmakers resumed plenary, and the other three who are reported to be loyal to the governor were not among them. They adjourned the sitting to Monday, September 22, 2025.
Meanwhile, former Rivers State governor and a key player in the crisis that led to the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, said in an interview on Channels Television that there was no legal obligation for the governor to resume immediately on the exact day the emergency rule ended.20 He said, “there is no law that says he must resume work today. He is the governor, I don’t understand the way we operate. Okay, I was sworn in today as the governor, for example, it doesn’t mean I will go to the office tomorrow. You don’t know what my programs are, you don’t know what the governor has scheduled to do, you don’t know where he is,” he said about the matter.
