Supporters Waited in Vain as Wike Hints Governor Was Airborne from Europe
The much-anticipated return of reinstated Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, to the Government House, Port Harcourt, yesterday turned into a spectacle of suspense and disappointment, as supporters who gathered in their thousands were left waiting in vain.
Unaware of his whereabouts, the jubilant crowd sang, danced, and beat drums for hours outside the seat of power, only to later learn that the governor was airborne — flying back from Europe where he had been on vacation.
Fubara and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly regained their mandates following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s midnight announcement on Wednesday, which lifted the six-month emergency rule and restored democratic governance in the oil-rich state.
From as early as 6 a.m., members of the disbanded “Simplified Movement” and loyalists of the governor thronged the Government House gate. With flutes, trumpets, masquerades, and traditional dancers, they transformed the usually tense political ground into a carnival.
Among those who led the charge were Victor Oko-Jumbo and sacked council chairmen Chijoke Ihunwo and Ichemati Ezebunwo. Their followers flooded Nnamdi Azikiwe Road, blocking adjoining streets and forcing motorists to make desperate detours through inner-city roads.
But as hours dragged into the afternoon without any sight of the governor or word from his aides, frustration crept in. By 1 p.m., after nearly seven hours of waiting, the once-hopeful crowd began dispersing in disappointment.
Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) stationed at the Government House gate kept the thronging supporters outside, offering no explanation about the governor’s whereabouts. Neither a broadcast nor a statement was issued from Fubara, leaving Rivers residents in a cloud of uncertainty.
Wike Breaks the Silence
The suspense was finally broken late in the evening when Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, appeared on a national television programme. Wike disclosed that Fubara had left Europe yesterday morning and was on his way back to Nigeria.
“As I speak to you, I spoke with the governor on Wednesday night. He told me he was leaving this morning. By the grace of God, peace has returned to Rivers State. We are ready to move forward,” Wike declared.
Pressed on who placed the call first, Wike dismissed the question:
“It is not important who called. What matters is that peace is back. I have forgiven him. Everything is over. I will not engage with a man I have not forgiven.”
The FCT minister further accused unnamed politicians of deliberately fueling discord in the state, insisting they would fail as stakeholders were now committed to progress.
While the governor’s absence created anxiety outside, the Rivers State House of Assembly swiftly reconvened at its temporary chamber in the legislative quarters. Speaker Martins Amaewhule presided over the first plenary since the lifting of emergency rule, outlining an ambitious agenda for the remaining legislative year.
The lawmakers resolved to:
Commend President Tinubu for restoring democratic institutions.
Call on Governor Fubara to submit a list of commissioner-nominees for screening.
Demand an Appropriation Bill for the remainder of the year.
Probe the six-month emergency administration of retired Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, including contract awards and expenditures.
Speaker Amaewhule stressed the urgency of scrutinizing the budget passed under Ibas:
“We never sighted the budget from the National Assembly. We only read about it in newspapers. It is imperative to know what came into Rivers State and how it was spent.”
The session ended with an adjournment to Monday, September 22, amid renewed optimism of collaboration between the Assembly and the governor.
The Big Question: When Will Fubara Return?
Despite the assurances from Wike and the legislature’s readiness to resume full governance, the question on the lips of many Rivers people remains: When will Governor Siminalayi Fubara physically return to Government House and address his people?
For now, the drums of celebration have gone silent, replaced by an uneasy wait for the governor’s long-anticipated homecoming.
PIONEER NEWS 