With just one month remaining before the six-month emergency rule in Rivers State expires, the camp of suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara has started the countdown to his anticipated return on 18 September 2025.
Jerry Omatsogunwa, the governor’s media aide, said that residents of Rivers State are eagerly awaiting Fubara’s comeback, hopeful that he will resume the “good work he was doing” before the suspension.
“Expectations for the governor’s return are very high,” Omatsogunwa said. “He had been doing wonderfully well as head of the Rivers State Government. Several key projects were underway, including the multi-billion-naira Port Harcourt Ring Road, which spans about six local government areas.
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“The hope is that these projects, the Ring Road, the Omoku-Elele Road, the Trans Kalabari Road, among others, will be revived immediately to avoid setbacks. We believe he will accelerate progress to ensure the people of Rivers State get the full benefit of their money.”
Omatsogunwa announced that from Monday, 18 August, a formal countdown would commence for the return of what he described as “the most loved governor in Rivers State.”
The emergency rule was declared by President Bola Tinubu on 18 March 2025 amid ongoing political tensions between Fubara and his predecessor and political benefactor, Nyesom Wike. The declaration led to the suspension of Fubara, his deputy, and members of the State House of Assembly.
In place of Fubara, retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas was appointed as Sole Administrator with a mandate to restore political stability in the state.
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Now five months into his role, Ibas, speaking through his Senior Special Adviser on Media, Hector Igbikiowubo, reaffirmed his commitment to handing over power once the emergency tenure ends. He also emphasised the importance of completing projects initiated under his watch.
Igbikiowubo said the administrator had been conducting site visits to ensure contractors were adhering to specifications. He noted that construction on the new State House of Assembly complex was well advanced and hoped that work would continue smoothly. Funding for key projects and other priorities was also being addressed.
He explained, “When you have a construction project ongoing and the contractor has been mobilised, there is a limit to how much you can push. You can only hope that the project proceeds apace. You can’t expect that because of an emergency situation they will cut corners to finish when the reality dictates otherwise.
“We are firmly committed to exiting office, which is why the National Assembly gave approval for the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to proceed with local government elections to restore democracy at that level.”
Igbikiowubo added, “The budget has been approved, funding for outstanding projects is ongoing, and we remain committed to the mandate of the emergency proclamation. We are executing it to the best of our abilities.”
