PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria — Siminalayi Fubara, the governor of Rivers State, has denied claims that he is avoiding members of the state house of assembly, insisting that he has made repeated attempts to meet with lawmakers since his reinstatement in September.
Speaking on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at the inauguration of the extension of the dualisation of the Ahoada–Omoku road, Fubara said narratives suggesting he has refused to engage the assembly are “pure lies”.
Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, were suspended from office in March after President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the state, following months of political unrest rooted in a breakdown of relations between the governor and Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
The crisis fractured the state’s political structure and split the assembly into rival factions.
Addressing the issue publicly, Fubara said he holds no personal grievance against lawmakers in either the state assembly or the National Assembly.
“Let me say here that you are aware that I went to see Mr President two days ago, and when I came back, we took a bold decision yesterday,” he said.
“I personally do not have any disagreement or anger anywhere with my members of the National Assembly, and more particularly, the members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“I have made every effort. I believe that the leadership of the state council, led by Chief Ferdinand Alabraba, can attest to this.”
The governor explained that he has been guided not to contact lawmakers directly, saying the reconciliation process was to be coordinated by Wike, who he referred to as “my leader”.
“I have made every effort to meet with them, but the arrangement wasn’t for me to call them directly. It was for my leader — the Minister — to arrange the meeting. Up till this hour, that meeting has not been fixed,” he said.
He dismissed claims that he has refused to meet with the assembly or attend to their demands.
“When people go about saying that I don’t want to meet with them, I don’t want to attend to them, I don’t want to attend to their demands, that is a pure lie,” he said.
“I personally said whatever their needs are, I am ready to meet them so that we can have peace in the state.”
Fubara said he has refrained from making direct overtures to avoid creating the impression that he is attempting to undermine the reconciliation structure.
“I have met with our leaders; they said they were going to arrange a meeting. I do not want to go behind them so it won’t look as if I am trying to divide the house,” he said.
The governor reaffirmed his commitment to restoring stability in Rivers State and maintaining a productive working relationship with the legislature.
He said his administration remains focused on ongoing developmental projects across the state despite the political tensions of the past year.
