Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has explained why he refused to legally challenge the six-month state of emergency imposed on the state by President Bola Tinubu, saying his decision was guided by the need to safeguard peace and stability.
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In a televised statewide broadcast on Friday, shortly after resuming office following the suspension of the emergency rule, Fubara said he deliberately chose cooperation over confrontation during the political turbulence.
“As your governor, I accepted to abide by the state of emergency declaration and chose to cooperate with Mister President and the National Assembly, guided by my conviction that no sacrifice was too great to secure peace, stability and progress of Rivers State,” Fubara said.
“This was why I also resisted the pressure to challenge the constitutionality of the declaration of state of emergency, the suspension of democratic institutions and other actions that we endured during the difficult period,” he added.
The governor commended President Tinubu for his intervention and mediation efforts, which brought an end to the prolonged political crisis. He confirmed that reconciliation had been reached between himself, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and former governor, Nyesom Wike, as well as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“In the course of this six months period, Mister President graciously brokered the peace process with all the parties successfully. Our leader, His Excellency, Nyesom Wike, all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, and I, as your governor, have all accepted to bury the hatchet and embrace peace and reconciliation in the best interest of our dear state,” Fubara declared.
He assured Rivers people that the crisis was now behind them, stressing that his administration would prioritize consolidating peace, rebuilding trust, and accelerating governance and development.
The governor reaffirmed his loyalty to President Tinubu, expressing gratitude for what he described as the President’s “fatherly disposition and decisive intervention” in restoring full democratic governance to the state.
“To those who have expressed genuine fears, frustrations and uncertainty over the nature of the peace process, I assure you that your concerns are valid and understood. However, nothing has been irretrievably lost; there remains ample opportunity for continued reconciliation and inclusiveness. We must all remember that the costliest peace is cheaper than the cheapest war,” he said.
Fubara also pledged to work harmoniously with the Rivers State House of Assembly to complete ongoing projects and drive economic recovery. He highlighted achievements in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and other sectors over the last two years, promising that his administration would not allow development projects to be abandoned.
The governor concluded by thanking Rivers people for their resilience, patience, and peaceful conduct throughout the six months of emergency rule.
Full Text of Statewide Broadcast by His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, on Friday, September 19, 2025
My dear good people of Rivers State
Recall that Rivers State was placed under a six-month emergency rule, declared by Mr. President, His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, on the 18th of March, 2025, following the intense political crisis in our State.
2. It is without doubt that the last six months had been enormously challenging for our dear State under the emergency rule.
3. As your Governor, I accepted to abide by the state of emergency declaration and chose to cooperate with Mr. President and the National Assembly, guided by my conviction that no sacrifice was too great to secure peace, stability, and progress of Rivers State.
4. This was why I also resisted the pressure to challenge the constitutionality of the declaration of a state of emergency, the suspension of democratic institutions, and all other actions that we endured during this difficult period.
5. In the course of the six-month period, Mr. President graciously brokered the peace process with all the parties successfully. Our Leader, His Excellency, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, CON, all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and I, as your Governor, have all accepted to bury the hatchet and embrace peace and reconciliation in the best interest of our dear Rivers State.
6. We believe the political crisis is now behind us and that peace and stability have once again returned to Rivers State, though not without the hard lessons learnt from the emergency rule.
7. The responsibility now rests squarely on us: the Government, the State House of Assembly, political leaders and stakeholders to put aside our differences, work for the common good, and advance the interests of our people above all else. We have a duty to ensure that the peace we have all embraced remains permanent in our dear Rivers State.
8. On behalf of the Government and the good people of Rivers State, I extend our heartfelt gratitude to Mr. President for his fatherly disposition and decisive interventions in resolving the political crisis and for graciously restoring full democratic governance to our State.
9. Personally, I will never take Mr. President’s kindness for granted, and for that, I hereby reaffirm my utmost loyalty and eternal gratitude.
10. To those who have expressed genuine fears, frustrations, and uncertainty over the nature of the peace process, I assure you that your concerns are valid and understood. However, nothing has been irretrievably lost; there remains ample opportunity for necessary adjustments, continued reconciliation, and inclusiveness. We must all remember the saying… ” the costliest peace is cheaper than the cheapest war”.
11. Accordingly, let us, therefore, embrace this moment as a fresh beginning. Let us work together with renewed hope and determination to build a stronger, more peaceful and prosperous Rivers State. I assure you that we will continuously work towards ensuring that we carry everyone along.
12. Despite the turbulence, you are aware of the credible milestones our administration achieved in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and other key sectors over the last two years.
13. Our immediate responsibility is to return to the path of governance and development by completing the projects which we started by ensuring none of them is starved of funds or neglected, thereby reviving our economy, protecting lives and property, and improving the wellbeing of all Rivers people.
14. I commit to working harmoniously with the Rivers State House of Assembly to recover lost grounds and accelerate the social and economic advancement of our dear State. I also renew my pledge to serve with the fear of God, humility and a high sense of duty.
15. I wish to sincerely thank you, the resilient people of Rivers State, for your patience, courage, and peaceful conduct during the six months of emergency rule.
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