Our Reporter, Abuja
Governor Siminalayi Fubara has explained why he refrained from challenging in court the six-month emergency rule imposed on Rivers State by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in March 2025.
In a statewide broadcast on Friday, Fubara said his decision was guided by the conviction that no sacrifice was too great to secure peace, stability, and progress for Rivers State.
“As your Governor, I accepted to abide by the state of emergency declaration and chose to cooperate with Mr. President and the National Assembly, guided by my conviction that no sacrifice was too great to secure peace, stability, and progress of Rivers State,” he said.
According to him, resisting pressure to contest the constitutionality of the declaration and the suspension of democratic institutions was a deliberate act to avoid worsening the crisis.
Fubara commended President Tinubu for “graciously brokering the peace process” among stakeholders, including former Governor Nyesom Wike, members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, and himself. He said all parties had agreed to bury their differences and work together in the interest of the state.
“Our leader, His Excellency, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, all members of the House of Assembly, and I, as your Governor, have all accepted to bury the hatchet and embrace peace and reconciliation in the best interest of our dear Rivers State,” Fubara stated.
The governor acknowledged the hardship the state endured during the emergency rule but said valuable lessons had been learned. He urged political leaders to sustain the peace by prioritising the welfare of the people above personal or partisan interests.
“The responsibility now rests squarely on us to ensure that the peace we have embraced remains permanent in Rivers State,” he stressed.
Fubara expressed “eternal gratitude” to President Tinubu for restoring democratic governance and reassured Rivers people that their fears and frustrations were valid but not irredeemable. He added that reconciliation and inclusiveness would guide governance moving forward.
Quoting an adage, he reminded citizens that “the costliest peace is cheaper than the cheapest war.”
The governor pledged to focus on governance and development, particularly in infrastructure, education, and healthcare, while working harmoniously with the State Assembly to accelerate the state’s progress.
He also thanked the people of Rivers for their patience and resilience during the six months period of emergency rule.
