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Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, says there is no law compelling Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, to immediately return to office following the end of the six-month emergency rule in the state.
President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State at the peak of the rift between Governor Fubara and loyalists of his estranged political godfather, Wike, the immediate past governor of the state.
Tinubu had suspended Fubara, Ngozi Odu, the Deputy Governor and members of the Rivers House of Assembly for six months.
He had appointed former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Ibot Ekwe Ibas as Sole Administrator of the State, a move which was heavily criticised.
But on Wednesday, the President said the emergency rule would elapse at midnight, adding that feelers from the state showed that there was no need for it to last a day longer.
He had ordered Fubara, his deputy and the lawmakers to resume duties.
However, while the House of Assembly members convened plenary, neither Fubara nor his deputy was seen in public.
Speaking on Thursday during an interview on Channels Television, Wike dismissed concerns over Fubara’s absence.
He maintained that governance extends beyond physical presence in the office, stressing that the governor has the prerogative to determine when and how he resumes official duties.
He said: “I am not his (Fubara) protocol officer. There is no law that says he must resume work today. He is a governor. I don’t understand the way we operate. Being sworn in today does not mean I will go to the office tomorrow.
“You don’t know what my programmes are. You don’t know where he is. Governance does not mean one must be in the office to govern.”
Pressed further on Fubara’s whereabouts, he said: “I am not his Chief Security Officer. I am not his protocol officer.”
While stating that peace had been restored in Rivers, he noted that political actors were now committed to stability.
“As I speak to you, as of yesterday, I spoke to the governor (Fubara). I told him I was leaving that night to come back, and he told me he was leaving this morning. So, I can tell you that, by the grace of God, peace has returned,” the minister said.
