(DDM) – The political landscape of Rivers State remains clouded in uncertainty following the reinstatement of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, whose whereabouts are still unknown days after President Bola Tinubu lifted the six-month state of emergency.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, the Sole Administrator who governed Rivers during the emergency rule, formally handed over authority to the reinstated governor during a state-wide broadcast. In his final address, Ibas urged Rivers people to rally behind Fubara as he resumes the leadership of the state.
Despite this symbolic transition, Arise Television correspondent Friday Olokor reported that Fubara has yet to make a public appearance, fueling speculation about whether he has returned to Port Harcourt. Olokor, speaking on the Morning Show programme, described the state as calm but politically tense, with residents anxiously awaiting clarity on their governor’s return.
Olokor noted that “the whereabouts of the governor is not still known, even though there are speculations that he might come in today.” He emphasized that the absence of the state’s chief executive has created “a vacuum in governance,” as the state’s Assembly remains split along factional lines.
The crisis in Rivers began in March 2025 when Tinubu suspended Governor Fubara, his deputy, and the state legislature amid a bitter political standoff between the executive and lawmakers.
The president cited a breakdown of law and order and imposed emergency rule, appointing Ibas as sole administrator. Critics, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, condemned the move as unconstitutional and dictatorial.
With Tinubu’s recent lifting of the suspension, hopes were high that normalcy would return to the oil-rich state. However, the uncertainty over Fubara’s whereabouts has only deepened divisions and raised fears of fresh instability.
Olokor further explained that members of the Rivers House of Assembly remain factionalized, with rival groups holding separate meetings to advance legislative business.
He warned that while the atmosphere in Port Harcourt appeared “calm and cozy,” the absence of visible leadership from the governor has left the people uneasy.
“There’s no way you cannot rule out the fact that factions will still be there,” he said. “But what matters is them coming together to put the past behind them and move ahead because the people of Rivers have suffered a lot.”
Political observers argue that the crisis reflects deeper fractures within Rivers politics, particularly the lingering rivalry between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who retains significant influence in the state.
The divisions have paralyzed governance, leaving residents caught in the middle.
Civic groups in Rivers have appealed for reconciliation, warning that the prolonged uncertainty could worsen the state’s already fragile economy and disrupt service delivery.
They note that ordinary citizens, not politicians, bear the brunt of the ongoing turmoil.
For now, the people of Rivers await a definitive sign of Governor Fubara’s return to office. Until then, the vacuum at the top of the state’s leadership continues to cast a long shadow over its fragile stability.
