Eighteen hours after President Bola Tinubu lifted the emergency rule he imposed in Rivers state, the whereabouts of suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara is still unknown.
Several of his supporters from across the 23 LGAs in the state trooped out early in the morning and converged in front of the Government House in Port Harcourt to welcome back their governor.
But they were disappointed when after several hours of their carnival like displays, singing and dancing in front of the Government House, the governor was no where to be found. Neither was there anyone to address them.
The crowd of supporters at the Government House gate started thinning out one by one by 5pm when news filtered into town that Governor Siminalayi Fubara was still far away in London. Another version of the news said the governor was in Abuja for the handover formalities.
So, the whereabouts of the governor was unknown as at 6pm when his supporters left the Government House gate disappointed and dejected. Among the crowd of supporters who came to welcome him back to Brick House were all the sacked council chairmen and members of the defunct Simplified movement as well as his former appointees before the suspension.
Notably absent from the welcome party however, were all the newly elected council chairmen and board appointees by the outgone Sole Administrator.
Unknown to many however, was that the governor may have been involved in the handover formalities because, we gathered that the outgone Sole Administrator made a statewide broadcast shortly after the handover ceremony.
In his farewell state-wide broadcast, Ibas expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve, noting that his six-month stewardship was aimed at restoring order and stability in the state.
“Six months ago, President Bola Tinubu entrusted me with this solemn responsibility of steering Rivers State through an extraordinary moment in its history. Today, I can say with conviction that through the grace of God and our collective effort, the mandate has been accomplished,” he said in the broadcast.
In that broadcast, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd) urged residents of the state to rally behind the governor as he resumes office today September 18 and thanked them for their cooperation during his six months stay in the state.
Meanwhile, the state House of Assembly under Speaker Martins Amaewhule met Thursday September 18, 2025 at their usual temporary venue at the Assembly Quarters where they resolved and directed the governor to forward names of his commissioners for consideration.
The lawmakers also declared that the House would continue to abide by all the terms of the peace parley and the Constitution of the Feueral Republic of Nigeria in the interest of peace and good governance of Rivers State:
RESOLUTION OF THE RIVERS STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY AT ITS FIRST LEGISLATIVE SITTING
1. Commend the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for restoring democratic institutions in the state;
2. Declare that the House would continue to abide by all the terms of the peace parley and the Constitution of the Feueral Republic of Nigeria in the interest of peace and good governance of Rivers State:
3. Call on the Executive Governor of Rivers State -Sir Siminialayi Fubara, GSSRS to forward the list of his nominees for appointment as commissioners into the State Executive Council in line with Constitution and terms of the peace parley;
4. Call on the Governor to commence the process of coming up with an appropriation law for the remaining part or the year to address current reatties.
5. Ascertain what transpired in the last six months with regards to award of contracts and expenditures from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the State.
6. Immediately outline the legislative agenda for the remaining part of the third session of the 10th Assembly to reflect current realities.
