Hopes were high in Rivers State that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would use the June 12 Democracy Day celebration to lift the state of emergency and reinstate suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara. However, those expectations were met with disappointment as the president failed to address the issue in his speech. His silence has deepened public anxiety and drawn reactions from prominent regional leaders.
Professor Benjamin Okaba, President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), expressed dismay over the president’s inaction. Speaking to our reporter, Prof. Okaba noted that the people of Rivers had hoped the June 12 address would signal the governor’s return.
“We expected the president to lift the state of emergency, but unfortunately, he didn’t. Nobody knows why. They are busy playing politics with the whole thing,” he said.
“The president has visited the state several times and held discussions, but the content of those meetings remains unknown. Perhaps he is still searching for a better way to resolve the situation. All Ijaw sons and daughters were highly disappointed that the state of emergency was not lifted on June 12.”
Emene Ibe, President-General of the Orashi Unity Forum
Similarly, Emene Ibe, President-General of the Orashi Unity Forum, expressed shock that President Tinubu did not announce the governor’s reinstatement during his Democracy Day address. Nevertheless, Ibe supported the president’s decision to forward the names of nominees for the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSEC) to the Senate for confirmation.
“I received the news with shock, especially after the president’s reconciliatory visits. Our people had expected that the outcome would be the reinstatement of the governor,” Ibe said.
However, Ibe praised the move to reconstitute RSEC, calling it a step toward rebuilding democratic institutions in the state.
“Sending the names of RSEC members to the Senate shows that the president is interested in ensuring a neutral arbiter. They want to establish proper electoral structures before the governor returns. Some believe that if the governor is allowed to appoint RSEC members, he might select only his loyalists.”
For many residents, the prolonged state of emergency has disrupted daily life and halted development projects. Public confidence in the government has dwindled, with community leaders insisting that reinstating the elected governor is key to restoring normalcy.
The political crisis in Rivers State began months ago when tensions escalated between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and influential political figures. Allegations of misconduct, power struggles, and intra-party disputes led to the governor’s suspension and the subsequent declaration of a state of emergency—a move widely condemned as excessive and undemocratic by human rights organizations and regional leaders.
The impasse has created a leadership vacuum, stalled governance, and intensified divisions among political actors. While efforts to mediate the crisis, including federal visits, consultations with traditional rulers, and behind-the-scenes negotiations, have been ongoing, a concrete resolution remains elusive.
