Premium News
Unknown to the supporters waiting to receive him back into the Government House yesterday, reinstated Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara was airborne at the time they were drumming and singing in front of the facility in Port Harcourt.
Fubara and Rivers State House of Assembly members got the nod to return to office as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu terminated the six-month emergency rule at midnight on Wednesday.
In anticipation of his resumption, supporters of the governor thronged the Government House in large numbers as early as 6am drumming and singing, but Fubara was nowhere to be found.
Nobody gave any indication to the crowd as to why he did not turn up.
But Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike dropped the hint last night when he appeared on a national television programme, that Fubara left Europe where he was on vacation yesterday morning.
But the lawmakers has a session presided over by Speaker Martins Amaewhule to signify their return to duties.
During the session, they expressed their readiness to start receiving correspondent from the governor.
During the first post-emergency rule plenary, the lawmakers unfolded plans to review the budget passed during the tenure of Administrator Ibok-Ete Ibas, who bowed out on Wednesday night following a broadcast.
Wike, who assured that peace had returned to the state, said he spoke with Fubara on Wednesday ahead of the lifting of the emergency rule by President Tinubu.
He said stakeholders were now committed to moving the state forward.
He said: “As I speak to you, as of yesterday, I spoke to the governor. 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. And look at what the Assembly did today to set the tone — you can see peace; you can see we are prepared, for the interest of the state. Let’s move forward.”
Asked who among them placed the call to the other, Wike said it is not important who called, adding that what mattered is that there is peace again in the state.
Wike added that he has forgiven Fubara, saying there is no more conflict between him and his successor.
He said: “I have already said that we’ve been speaking. I will not engage with a man I have not forgiven. Everything is over. I am not a politician, who says one thing today and another tomorrow. We must move forward.”
The FCT minister also criticised those he said are opposed to the return of peace in the state, saying they are only interested in fuelling the crisis.
No communication from governor
There was anxiety as Fubara did not resume, despite the handover by Ibas.
The governor, who was not sighted anywhere in the state, did not also make any broadcast to the people.
Fubara’s supporters under the aegis of the disbanded ‘Simplified Movement’ from the 23 local governments besieged the Government House gate to receive him from 6 am.
Victor Oko-Jumbo, and sacked council chairmen – Chijoke Ihunwo and Ichemati Ezebunwo – were among loyalists, who led others to wait for the governor.
They turned the arena into a carnival, with flutes, drums, dancing troupes and other musical instruments, to welcome Fubara.
The supporters occupied the stretch of Nnamdi Azikiwe Road and adjoining streets, blocking the area and denying commuters access to the roads.
Motorists were forced to divert their vehicles to the internal roads, which were partly blocked by the supporters’ vehicles.
After waiting for seven hours, the crowd began to disperse when there was no positive response to the enquiries by their leaders.
Operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) at the Government House gate did not allow anybody to enter.
However, the House of Assembly reconvened at the conference hall in the legislative quarters, which had served as its temporary chamber since their official chamber on Moscow Road was bombed by arsonist and pulled down by the state government.
