By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Correspondent
RIVERS STATE Governor Siminalayi Fubara returned to the state on Friday, arriving at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, after six months of suspension from office during the emergency rule imposed by President Bola Tinubu.
The governor’s aircraft touched down at about 11:55am, before he emerged from the VIP wing of the airport at 12:19pm, dressed in a blue shirt and a black baseball cap.
Supporters, including former members of his cabinet, had gathered in anticipation of his arrival.
Many were seen singing and dancing within the airport precincts, waving banners and chanting solidarity songs.
Fubara’s arrival came more than 24 hours after President Tinubu formally lifted the six-month emergency rule on Wednesday night.
The president had suspended Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly on March 18 following violent clashes linked to a protracted political feud.
During the period, retired Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas was appointed as sole administrator to oversee the state’s affairs.
In his final state broadcast before handing back power, Ibas urged political actors in Rivers to embrace dialogue and mutual respect as governance resumed.
The former administrator had earlier overseen the inauguration of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), chaired by Michael Odey, which conducted local government elections on 30 August.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) secured victory in 20 councils, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won in three.
The political crisis that triggered the state of emergency stemmed from a dispute between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), over control of the state’s political structure.
The feud divided the House of Assembly and escalated into violent confrontations.
In June, President Tinubu convened a reconciliation meeting with Fubara, Wike, Speaker Martin Amaewhule, and other stakeholders, signalling efforts to restore stability.
However, tensions persisted as supporters of the governor continued to demand his reinstatement.
On Thursday, following the president’s directive for suspended officials to resume, the Rivers House of Assembly reconvened in Port Harcourt. Hundreds of Fubara’s supporters had besieged the government house in anticipation of his resumption, but the governor did not appear.
This absence fuelled speculation until his arrival at the airport the following day.
During a television interview on Thursday, Wike clarified that there was no legal compulsion for Fubara to immediately resume at the government house.
He emphasised that governance was not confined to physical presence in an office.
Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, had been out of office since March 18, when Tinubu announced emergency measures in response to escalating hostilities between rival factions in Rivers.
On March 19, the president swore in Admiral Ibas as sole administrator at the State House in Abuja, placing the oil-rich state under direct federal control for the six-month period.
Despite criticisms, Ibas carried out administrative duties, including inaugurating the state electoral commission.
His handover broadcast on Wednesday night marked the conclusion of his tenure, paving the way for the governor and his team to resume their roles.
As of Friday, Fubara returned to the Rivers State Government House, even as supporters awaited him both outside the government office premises and the airport.
His re-entry into the state is now expected to shape the next phase of governance after months of federal intervention.
