By Daniel Abia
The political stage in Rivers State is set for a dramatic twist as suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Prof. Ngozi Odu, and the 32-member House of Assembly prepare for a likely return to power on September 18, 2025, signaling the end of six turbulent months of emergency rule.
This comes after a high-stakes closed-door meeting between President Bola Tinubu and the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas (rtd), at the Presidential Villa last Wednesday. Multiple authoritative sources confirmed that President Tinubu issued a marching order to Ibas, instructing him to compile a comprehensive handover report detailing every kobo inherited, accrued revenues, expenditures, and the specific projects executed during his controversial stewardship.
The directive, insiders say, “must land on the President’s desk before Ibas returns from his 10-day vacation,” a move widely interpreted as a death knell for desperate lobbying at the National Assembly to extend the emergency rule by another three months.
Failed Plot to Extend Emergency Rule
Powerful interests within the legislature had mounted pressure to prolong Ibas’ tenure until December 2025, arguing that the extension would enable him to conclude flagship projects such as the rebuilding of the demolished State Assembly complex, the workers’ verification exercise, and the installation of sensitive government equipment.
Had this succeeded, Rivers’ democratic institutions—including the governor, deputy, and lawmakers—would have remained in limbo until January 2026.
But the plot crumbled under fierce resistance, with Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike—once an ally turned arch-adversary of Fubara—vehemently insisting that “backdoor schemes” must be rejected and the emergency rule lifted without delay.
September 18: A Date Etched in Stone
Speaking after casting his vote during the August 30 local government elections, Wike declared that both the governor and Assembly were primed for reinstatement. Days later, Rivers APC Chairman, Chief Tony Okocha, reinforced that September 18 is sacrosanct.
Sources also reveal that Tinubu may personally announce the lifting of emergency rule on that date, which coincides exactly with the six-month mark since the proclamation was made on March 18, 2025 to quell the political inferno between Wike and Fubara.
A human rights activist in Port Harcourt, who spoke under anonymity, argued that the President has little room to maneuver:
> “Tinubu’s next major international outing will be at the UN General Assembly in New York. Standing before advanced democracies, it would be indefensible for him to cling to a suspension of democratic institutions in Rivers. Lifting it is not only politically prudent, it is morally obligatory.”
Currently in London with his family, Governor Fubara is expected to return to Nigeria any moment. Upon his return, he will be handed a carefully curated list of political appointees—including commissioners—with whom he is expected to rebuild trust and governance in the state.
With the clock ticking toward September 18, Rivers State braces for either a triumphant democratic restoration or the eruption of fresh political fireworks in a drama that has gripped the nation since March.
PIONEER NEWS 