Rivers Reclaims Democracy: Fubara Declares End to Emergency Rule, Vows Unity and Progress

Port Harcourt, September 19, 2025 – In a solemn yet hopeful statewide broadcast, Governor Siminalayi Fubara addressed the people of Rivers State on Friday, declaring the official end of the six-month emergency rule imposed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in March.

The Governor, speaking with measured conviction, acknowledged the turbulence of the past months but struck a conciliatory tone, calling for reconciliation, unity, and renewed commitment to peace and development.

“The costliest peace is cheaper than the cheapest war,” Fubara reminded citizens, urging political actors, leaders, and residents alike to bury divisions and rebuild trust in the aftermath of Rivers’ most intense political crisis in decades.

A Six-Month Trial by Fire

Rivers State was plunged into emergency rule on March 18, 2025, after violent political upheavals rocked Port Harcourt and other parts of the state. Democratic institutions were suspended, and governance was placed under federal control as tensions escalated between rival political factions.

Fubara said he deliberately resisted pressure to challenge the legality of the President’s intervention, choosing instead to cooperate “for the sake of peace, stability, and progress.”

The Governor credited President Tinubu’s “fatherly disposition and decisive intervention” for brokering peace among himself, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

“Together, we have accepted to bury the hatchet and embrace reconciliation in the best interest of Rivers State,” Fubara said.

He expressed gratitude not only to President Tinubu but also to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, House of Representatives Speaker Dr. Abbas Tajudeen, and members of the National Assembly for their roles in resolving the impasse.

With normalcy restored, Fubara said the state’s immediate priority is to “return to the path of governance and development,” pledging to complete all ongoing projects in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and other critical sectors.

“I commit to working harmoniously with the Rivers State House of Assembly to recover lost grounds and accelerate the social and economic advancement of our dear State,” he affirmed.

A Call to Unity

The Governor thanked Rivers citizens for their patience and resilience during the turbulent period, commending traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society groups, youth, and women’s associations for sustaining hope and stability.

“Our diversity is our greatest asset, and our unity the strongest guarantee of our future,” he declared. “We must rise above bitterness and division and channel our energies into securing a peaceful and prosperous State for all.”

Governor Fubara closed his address with renewed pledges of loyalty to President Tinubu and gratitude to Nyesom Wike for embracing peace. He urged Rivers people to embrace the moment as “a fresh beginning” while dedicating the new chapter to God’s guidance.

“Let us work together with renewed hope and determination to build a stronger, more peaceful, and prosperous Rivers State,” he said. “May God bless Rivers State and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”