Supporters of Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara dispersed after hours of waiting at the Government House gate in Port Harcourt when the governor failed to appear.
Supporters of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Thursday dispersed after waiting in vain at the Government House gate in Port Harcourt to welcome him.
The crowd, mainly members of the governor’s disbanded political group, the Simplified Movement, had mobilised from the 23 local government areas on the directives of their leaders.
Among them were sacked local government chairmen linked to the recent political crisis, including Amb. Chijoke Ihunwo, Ichemati Ezebunwo, and the former factional Speaker of the House of Assembly, Victor Oko-Jumbo.
The supporters, who arrived as early as 6 a.m., came with flutes, drums, and dancing troupes, occupying the stretch of Nnamdi Azikiwe Road and blocking access for commuters.
Vehicles were forced to divert to inner roads, some of which were also congested.
Despite waiting and dancing until 1 p.m., the governor did not appear, and frantic calls by their leaders yielded no response. Exhausted, the leaders left, and their followers gradually returned home in hired vehicles.
Political observers noted that Fubara’s silence signaled his reintegration into his original camp and reduced willingness to confront his predecessor, Chief Nyesom Wike.
Wike’s loyalists were noticeably absent at the gathering.