The suspended governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, has said that if he had his way, he was not desperate to return to office after the six-month state of emergency imposed on the State by President Bola Tinubu.
Fubara stated this at the service of songs held in honour of the late elder statesman and Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, in Port Harcourt, the state capital, on Sunday.
“Do you even know if I want to go back there? My spirit has already left there,” Fubara said.
According to a viral video, the embattled governor spoke in response to several speakers at the event who referred to him as “Governor” and strongly criticised his suspension, calling for immediate reversal. He distanced himself from their remarks, describing them as personal opinions.
According to him, such comments were not likely to promote peace.
“Not everything is by ‘oshogbe,’” he cautioned, hinting at his preference for a more strategic and less confrontational approach to the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State.
Fubara further warned that some of the actions taken by some of his supporters, though well-intended, had only worsened his situation.
He urged the attendees to focus on the tribute of Late Edwin Clark, who lived a selfless life advocating for the Niger Delta region and not to turn the occasion to politics.
Rivers State has been at the centre of a deepening political feud between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who is Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Following the political situation in the state, President Tinubu intervened in December 2023, brokering a peace deal between both sides. The peace deal, however, failed all gladiators continued offensives.
However, on March 18, Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers and suspended Fubara, his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, and the State House of Assembly, the over prolonged crisis.
The President also appointed a retired naval chief, Ibok-Ete Ibas, as the sole administrator of the oil-rich state.