…Amid political intrigue, all eyes on President’s Democracy Day broadcast
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As Nigeria prepares to mark another Democracy Day on June 12, strong pressure is reportedly mounting on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reinstate the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, before the symbolic date, according to vanguard report
Former President Goodluck Jonathan is said to be among a group of influential Nigerians lobbying quietly behind the scenes for Fubara’s return. According to multiple sources, Jonathan recently held a lengthy telephone conversation with President Tinubu urging him to reverse what many have called an unconstitutional suspension.
President Tinubu, on March 18, suspended Governor Fubara for six months and imposed a state of emergency in Rivers State—an action that sparked widespread criticism. Legal experts and civil society groups described the move as lacking constitutional backing, noting that Sections 305 and 188 of the Constitution provide no authority for the president to suspend an elected governor.
Fubara’s deputy and a faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly were also suspended, amid a fierce power struggle between the embattled governor and his predecessor, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
While expectations had mounted for Fubara’s reinstatement during Tinubu’s May 29 second anniversary celebration, that hope faded, leaving June 12—Democracy Day—as the next possible turning point.
In the background, there have been notable developments. Fubara, in a surprise move, travelled to London in April for a private meeting with Tinubu. Sources revealed that the two held a three-hour closed-door discussion centered on peace efforts in Rivers and the possible lifting of the state of emergency.
A follow-up meeting reportedly held in Lagos further hinted at reconciliation, as photos of the pair circulated on social media, fuelling optimism that Fubara’s reinstatement may be imminent.
Fubara, who has urged his supporters not to insult the president or Wike during this delicate period, reportedly emphasized his willingness to work with Tinubu to restore peace in the state.
Meanwhile, political analysts suggest that Fubara may be considering a shift to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), following the footsteps of Governors Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta and Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom, both originally elected under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The possibility of his defection is being interpreted as part of a larger political strategy to retain Tinubu’s support.
Former media adviser to Wike, Opunabo Inko-Tariah, hailed Fubara’s quiet diplomacy, noting that his actions so far reflect maturity and focus. “He doesn’t talk much, but his achievements speak volumes. He has left billions in the state’s coffers and completed 52 projects—all without borrowing. The president now sees the truth,” he stated.
President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Prof. Benjamin Okaba, also expressed confidence in Tinubu’s moral compass. “The president now knows that the suspension was an aberration. He should not waste further time. Posterity will judge his action,” he said.
Sources further revealed that other former leaders have reached out to Tinubu in private, appealing for a resolution. “Besides Jonathan, two former presidents have also expressed concern. The two private visits by Fubara were said to have been arranged following secret instructions from these high-level intermediaries,” one insider confirmed.
As Tinubu prepares to address the nation in a broadcast on June 12, it remains uncertain whether he will seize the moment to correct what many view as a constitutional anomaly—or allow the state of emergency to run its course until the original six-month expiration on September 18.
Rivers State, a key oil-producing region, has been at the center of a deepening power tussle that many fear could destabilize national politics if left unresolved.
For now, all eyes are on President Tinubu and what his Democracy Day address might reveal. Will it mark a return to constitutional order in Rivers? Or will the crisis continue to cast a long shadow over Nigeria’s 25-year democratic journey?
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