PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria — Nearly two months after his suspension, Siminalayi Fubara, the embattled governor of Rivers State, has stated publicly that he is not eager to return to office, signalling a shift in tone amid the ongoing political crisis in the oil-rich southern state.
Speaking on Sunday, May 11, 2025, at a service of songs in honour of the late Edwin Clark, the elder statesman and Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) leader, Fubara said his spirit had left the governorship and that he would not wish to resume the role even if given the opportunity.
“Do you think I’m interested in going back there?” he asked the audience in Port Harcourt.
“If I had my way, I would say this is it. This is the will of God. I don’t wish to go back there. My spirit has left that place.”
The comments came in response to tributes from members of the Rivers Elders Forum who referred to him as “governor” and criticised his removal.
Fubara, however, distanced himself from the remarks, calling them personal opinions that do not reflect his own position.
He cautioned that such statements could further escalate tensions in the state and urged attendees to focus on commemorating Clark’s life and legacy rather than using the event as a platform for political protest.
Since late 2023, Fubara has been embroiled in a prolonged standoff with his predecessor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The dispute, which initially centred on control over state political structures, intensified in early 2024 and drew national attention.
In December 2024, President Bola Tinubu intervened, brokering a short-lived peace deal between the two factions.
However, on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, citing security concerns, and suspended Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and the state legislature.
The federal government appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.) as sole administrator, assuming direct control of the state and dissolving existing political structures.
The move triggered legal action by 11 governors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who challenged the constitutionality of the president’s action at the Supreme Court.
The National Assembly has since filed an objection, calling the suit frivolous and urging the court to impose a N1 billion penalty on the plaintiffs.
In April, Fubara reportedly met with President Tinubu in London to discuss the crisis, though no details of the meeting were made public.
