Thousands of supporters, who had thronged Government House, Port Harcourt, on Thursday to welcome the reinstated Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, went home disappointed after he failed to appear.
Fubara was scheduled to resume duties as Governor of Rivers State on Thursday, following the end of the six-month emergency rule imposed on the state by President Bola Tinubu on March 18.
This comes after the President, on Wednesday, announced an end to the emergency rule, which ended the six-month tenure of ex-naval chief, Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), as Rivers’ sole administrator.
Rivers State has faced one of Nigeria’s fiercest political crises, pitting Fubara against his predecessor and FCT minister, Nyesom Wike. Once allies, their fallout over control of state structures and resources split the House of Assembly, sparking impeachment moves, protests, and violence, including the burning of the Assembly complex. President Tinubu intervened with a peace deal, which failed to calm frayed nerves, before the declaration of emergency rule.
As tempers flared, locals and ex-agitators threatened to destroy oil installations should Fubara be impeached, as threatened by the pro-Wike Martin Amaewhule-led state House of Assembly through a notice sent to the governor.
