By Ismaeel Aleem
Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has disclosed that his visit to President Bola Tinubu on Monday, September 22, 2025, was to formally inform him of his return to office following the lifting of a six-month emergency rule in the state.
Speaking to journalists after a closed-door meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Fubara described the discussion as a “father-and-son” exchange focused on ensuring lasting stability in Rivers State.
Fubara, who was reinstated on September 18, 2025, after the suspension of his administration due to a political crisis, arrived at the State House around 6:20 p.m. for his first official visit since resuming office.
“You are aware that the suspension was lifted midnight, 17th, and I resumed on the 19th. I’m here to tell Mr President that I’m back and have also resumed my responsibility as Governor of Rivers State,” he said.
The governor noted that he sought Tinubu’s guidance to prevent a recurrence of the crisis that led to his suspension in March 2025, triggered by a feud with Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
The conflict, marked by impeachment threats, budgetary blockades, and violent clashes, prompted Tinubu to invoke Section 305 of the Constitution, appointing Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas (retd.) as sole administrator.
Fubara expressed gratitude to Tinubu for his intervention, stating, “It was a father-and-son discussion, telling him thank you and the areas he should guide me properly, so we don’t have a crisis again.”
Fubara’s reinstatement and his acknowledgment of resolving differences with Wike, whom he called “our leader,” signal a commitment to reconciliation.
