18/09/2025
BREAKING: Fubara's spirit had left the Govt House, he's no longer interested to return as Rivers Governor - Sources
Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara appears to have distanced himself from returning to office, despite being reinstated yesterday after a six-month state of emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu expired.
Multiple sources told Daily Correspondents that Fubara, who had expressed earlier that his "spirit had left the Government House," may likely not resume his gubernatorial role. His whereabouts is currently unknown too and none of his phones could be reached, one of the sources said.
Fubara's reinstatement follows President Tinubu's decision to end the emergency rule imposed on Rivers State back in March 2025.
President Bola Tinubu had in March declared a State of Emergency in Rivers State, following months of political turmoil that paralysed governance and threatened security in the oil-rich state.
The President had appointed Ibas as administrator after dissolving political structures to restore order.
However, Tinubu, on Wednesday, formally declared an end to the State of Emergency in Rivers State, clearing the way for the return of full democratic governance in the state.
According to reports, Fubara wasn't present at the Government House when news of his reinstatement broke. This is even as thousands of supporters who had thronged the Government House, Port Harcourt, on Thursday morning to welcome Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, went home disappointed after waiting for hours.
Many of the supporters, who came as early as 6 a.m. from different parts of the state, including rural areas, started leaving the Government House entrance between 12 noon and 1 p.m.
Some of their leaders, including the immediate past local government chairmen loyal to Fubara, were seen making frantic calls as the whereabouts of the governor remained unknown as of 1 p.m.
Among the sacked LG chairmen who led their supporters to the Government House in anticipation of the governorβs return were the former chairman of Obio/Akpor, Chijoke Ihunwo, and his counterpart from Port Harcourt City, Ezebunwo Itche-Mati, among others.
Meanwhile, none of the supporters of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, were seen at the Government House, including the newly elected LG chairmen.
Some of those seen leaving the Government House gate expressed frustration over the governorβs absence after waiting for several hours.
βWe are going because we are hungry. Maybe when the governor comes, we will return,β one of them said.
