[BREAKING] Fubara: I’m Not Interested in Going Back To Govern Rivers, My Spirit Has Left There

Nearly two months after his suspension as governor and the imposition of emergency rule in Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara has broken his silence—expressing disinterest in returning to office and calling for calm amid ongoing political tensions.

Speaking on Sunday at a service of songs held in honour of the late elder statesman and Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) leader, Edwin Clark, Fubara told attendees in Port Harcourt that he has emotionally and mentally detached from the state’s top seat.

“Have you asked yourself, do you think I’m interested in going back there?” Fubara asked. “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.”

His remarks came in response to tributes from members of the Rivers Elders Forum, who referred to him as “governor” and condemned his suspension. Fubara dissociated himself from those expressions, urging the gathering not to politicise the solemn occasion.

“Those are personal views,” he said, adding that such statements were unlikely to promote peace in Rivers State. He also criticised some of his supporters for taking actions that, in his view, had aggravated the crisis.

The political turmoil in Rivers dates back to late 2023, stemming from a bitter rift between Fubara and Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and his political predecessor. Despite President Bola Tinubu brokering a peace deal in December 2024, tensions persisted.

On March 18, Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers and suspended the entire democratic leadership, including Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and the state legislature. The president appointed retired naval chief Ibok-Ete Ibas as sole administrator of the state—effectively placing Rivers under federal control.

The move has sparked legal and political resistance. Eleven governors from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenged Tinubu’s actions at the Supreme Court, calling them unconstitutional. But the National Assembly swiftly dismissed the suit as “legally deficient,” and asked the court to impose a ₦1 billion fine for what it called a “frivolous and speculative” filing.

In April, reports emerged of a meeting between Fubara and Tinubu in London, suggesting ongoing efforts to find a political solution.

However, with Fubara now publicly expressing his reluctance to return to office, the future of leadership in Rivers State appears increasingly uncertain.