The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has confirmed that Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara is ready to return to the state following the lifting of the six-month emergency rule.
Wike disclosed this during an interview, saying he spoke with Fubara on Wednesday ahead of the governor’s return.
“As I speak to you, as of yesterday, I spoke to the Governor (Fubara). I told him I was leaving that night to come back, and he told me he was leaving this morning,” Wike said.
The former Rivers governor added that peace has returned to the state and stressed that there is no longer any conflict between him and Fubara.
“Everything is over. I have forgiven him. I won’t play politics with someone I have not forgiven,” he stated.
Wike also criticised those he accused of attempting to disrupt peace by twisting legal arguments surrounding the conduct of local government elections.
The emergency rule, imposed in March after a political crisis between Wike and Fubara led to the suspension of the governor, his deputy, and the state House of Assembly, was lifted earlier this week by President Bola Tinubu. The move restored the official offices of the governor, deputy governor, and legislature.
While Fubara’s return marks an end to months of uncertainty, political observers note that his influence may have been weakened as power structures shifted during the emergency period.