Fubara resumes duty in Rivers State after months of emergency rule ended by Tinubu.
He pledges loyalty, unity and renewed focus on development, security and reconciliation across the state.
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has formally resumed duty following the end of the six-month emergency rule in the state. He pledged his loyalty to President Bola Tinubu and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, while calling for unity and reconciliation across political divides.
In a statewide broadcast on Friday evening, September 19, Fubara described the past six months as “enormously challenging” but said he deliberately chose not to challenge the legality of the emergency rule. “I accepted to abide by the state of emergency declaration and chose to cooperate with Mr President and the National Assembly… to secure peace, stability, and progress of Rivers State,” he said.
The governor credited the President with brokering peace between the major political actors and urged all stakeholders to sustain the truce. “Our leader, His Excellency Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and I… have accepted to bury the hatchet and embrace peace,” he noted.
Fubara said his administration would now focus on completing ongoing projects in infrastructure, education and health, reviving the economy and protecting lives and property. “I commit to working harmoniously with the Rivers State House of Assembly to recover lost grounds and accelerate the social and economic advancement of our dear State,” he added.
He expressed gratitude to Rivers people for their patience during the emergency rule and thanked religious leaders, traditional rulers, civil society groups and other stakeholders for their prayers and support. “Above all, let us draw strength from our shared identity as Rivers people. Our diversity is our greatest asset, and our unity the strongest guarantee of our future,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Fubara arrived at the Port Harcourt International Airport aboard a private jet from Abuja, accompanied by his wife Valerie and Chief of Staff, Dr. Edison Ehie. He was welcomed by Deputy Governor Prof. Ngozi Nam Odu and a large crowd of supporters who had been singing and dancing since Thursday. The governor, dressed casually and smiling, acknowledged their cheers before proceeding to Government House for inspections and his broadcast.
