At the end of the emergency rule in Rivers state on Wednesday 18th September, 2025, there seems to be no end to the crisis that precipitated the suspension of democratic governance in the state, given the failure of Governor Siminilayi Joseph Fubara, to resume work immediately.
Indeed, twenty-four hours after the emergency rule on Rivers was lifted, Gov. Fubara is yet to resume in his office at the Government House, Port Harcourt, leaving Rivers people disappointed.
As early as 7 a.m, over 300,000 Rivers people and their residents, who stormed the Government House gates, hungry to receive their governor after six months, went home disillusioned after waiting until Thursday evening.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Wednesday, announced the lifting of the state of emergency and the reinstatement of suspended governor Fubara, his deputy, Prof Ngozi Odu and the 32-member legislature.
Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ekwe Ibas, the former sole administrator of the state, has since moved out of the state on the orders of the president, thus creating a vacuum in the administrative governance of the oil-rich state.
Fubara and his governance team, as well as the state lawmakers, have been on suspension for six months, following the political crisis that engulfed the two gladiators, Chief Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike and Sir Siminilayi Joseph Fubara.
Sumitnews gathered that Wike, who travelled to a specialist hospital in London, the United Kingdom,
Gov. Fubara: Whereabouts unknown September 18
for a heart-related treatment, rushed down to Abuja to meet with Fubara to conclude discussions on some outstanding matters.
Topical among the issues was the appointment of commissioners and other political positions, including personal aides to the governor.
Investigations revealed that out of over 17 commissionership positions in Rivers, the FCT opted and named 10 nominees, in addition to the Secretary to the state government, SSG, and the Chief of Staff, COS, to the governor.
According to reliable sources, Wike handed over the list, including nominees for three juicy positions of commissioners for finance, works, and health, to the governor for presentation to the state House of Assembly, after adding a few of his (Fubara) nominees.
Displeased with the development, source said the governor boldly objected and asked Wike why he would nominate the SSG and his own Chief of Staff, a supposed personal staff of his.
Recall that the appointment of COS for Governor Fubara was part of the main causes for the last crisis that led to the six months emergency rule and the imposition of a sole administrator on Rivers.
With Wike’s imposition of the first COS on Fubara, the governor’s flanks were left open as every secret discussion and meeting in Government House became public issues.
The governor’s removal of the then COS and replacement with Edison Ehie, who resigned as Speaker of the state legislature, escalated the political imbroglio between the two estranged bedfellows.
Gripped by the saying that once bitten twice shy, it was learnt that Fubara objected to Wike’s new manoeuvring, insisting that there was no way the FCT minister could have his way this time, especially concerning the positions of the SSG and COS.
Furthermore, Fubara argued that it was the FCT Minister that nominated or sponsored councillors and chairmen of the 23 local government councils in the state, the state legislature, and influenced the appointments of virtually all the members of over 17 boards and parastatals.
Besides, according to Fubara’s arguments source of said Wike also appointed through the sacked sole administrator, the chairmen, and members of the Governing councils of all higher institutions in the state.
In an apparent display of nepotism, the Summitnews was reliably informed that most of the governing councils were headed by people from Wike’s Ikwerre ethnic extraction just as most of the newly appointed permanent secretaries were those with allegiance to the FCT Minister.
In a seeming coordinated move, while the list of appointees was yet to be resolved, the Martyns Amaewhule’s led House of Assembly, at its plenary sitting in the Rivers capital, directed the governor to present the list of his commissioners’ nominees immediately for screening and possible confirmation
The lawmakers, who sat at the main hall of their legislative quarters, also resolved to investigate the finances, including income and expenditure of the state government during the six-month period of emergency rule.
Political observers are of the opinion that the supposed peace brokered by President Tinubu is fragile, as indications within 24 hours of the return of democratic governance in the state, is like a time bomb, just waiting to explode.
Elders, Chiefs, and several groups and individuals have passionately called on Tinubu to take further steps to restore a lasting peace in the state by calling his FCT Minister to order.
