ABUJA — President Bola Tinubu has lifted the state of emergency in Rivers State and reinstated Governor Siminalayi Fubara along with the suspended state legislature. PRNigeria confirmed the development on Monday. The emergency declaration had been in place for several months following the political crisis that engulfed the state.
The state of emergency was declared amid the bitter political conflict between Governor Fubara and his political godfather, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike. The crisis involved attempts to impeach the governor, loyalty battles among state assembly lawmakers, and federal government intervention that many observers said benefited Wike’s political interests.
Fubara expressed gratitude for the lifting of the emergency and pledged to govern Rivers State with renewed focus on delivering development to its people. He said the crisis taught him the importance of political independence and of prioritising the welfare of Rivers citizens above factional loyalty.
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Wike’s Continued Influence
Despite Fubara’s reinstatement, Wike’s political shadow looms large over Rivers State. Analysts said the minister’s influence over significant segments of the state assembly, local government structures, and party machinery means the political tension is unlikely to fully resolve simply because the emergency has been lifted.
NIIA Research Director Otubanjo, in an analysis published this week, described Wike as someone who has shot Tinubu in the foot through his Rivers State manoeuvrings. He said the entire emergency episode created more political complications for the presidency than it resolved.
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Civil society groups in Rivers State said they expect governance to now focus on the acute development needs of the state, which has enormous oil wealth but persistent poverty, infrastructure deficits, and environmental degradation. They said the political class owes Rivers people a period of stable, development-focused governance after months of crisis.
