Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has made his official return to the state capital of Port Harcourt.
He landed at Port Harcourt International Airport around 12:19 p.m. on Friday, over 24 hours after President Bola Tinubu lifted the six-month emergency rule in the state.
The governor was met by a large crowd of supporters who had gathered at the airport’s VIP wing to greet him.
READ ALSO: JUST IN: Fubara returns to Rivers after emergency rule ended
Although the House of Assembly had resumed its sessions the previous day, Fubara had not yet returned to Government House, despite the public anticipation.
His predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, noted in a media interview that there was no legal requirement for Fubara to resume duties on Thursday.
Fubara and Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu had been away from state governance for six months following President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency on March 18, which was enacted to address a political dispute.
During this period, retired Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas was sworn in as the interim administrator for the state.
Upon concluding his temporary role, Ibas called for political leaders to embrace dialogue and mutual respect.
The conflict stemmed from a power struggle between Fubara and his predecessor, Wike, a common issue in Nigerian politics.
This disagreement led to a split among lawmakers in the House of Assembly.
In June, Tinubu reportedly brokered a reconciliation meeting with Fubara, Wike, and other key political figures.
READ ALSO: Rivers Assembly reconvenes, urges Fubara on budget, cabinet nominees
Despite some public criticism, the interim administrator, Ibas, oversaw the inauguration of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), which then conducted local government elections on August 30.
The results saw the All Progressives Congress (APC) win 20 council areas, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secured three.
