Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara returned to Port Harcourt on Friday, welcomed by political allies after President Bola Tinubu lifted the state of emergency and ordered his reinstatement.
Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara on Friday arrived at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, ending weeks of political uncertainty following his suspension under emergency rule.
The governor’s aircraft landed at 11:50 a.m., two days after President Bola Tinubu lifted the state of emergency imposed on Rivers and directed Fubara’s reinstatement. A jubilant crowd of allies and loyalists thronged the tarmac to greet him.
Among those present were former Commissioner for Information and Communications, Barr. Emma Okah; ex-Health Commissioner, Dr. Adaeze Oreh; former Nigerian Ambassador to the Netherlands, Oji Ngofa; ex-Environment Commissioner, Sydney Gbara; and former factional Speaker of the House of Assembly, Victor Oko-Jumbo.
Also in attendance were former Youths Commissioner Chisom Gbali, ex-Physical Planning Commissioner Evans Bipi, former NUPENG President Igwe Achese, former Education Commissioner Dr. Tamunosisi Gogo-Jaja, and former council chairmen Ezebunwo Ichemati and Obio/Akpor, among others.
Fubara’s return signals a potential easing of political tensions in Rivers State, where the federal intervention had drawn widespread debate.