Our reporter/ Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, for the first time on Sunday about his suspension and declaration of state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu.
Fubara, who spoke at the service of songs held in honour of the late elder statesman, Edwin Clark, in Port Harcourt, the state capital, organised by the Rivers Elders Forum on Sunday, disclosed that he is not desperate to return to office.
“Do you even know if I want to go back there? My spirit has already left there,” he said.
Fubara responded to several speakers at the event who referred to him as “Governor” and strongly criticised his suspension, calling for immediate reversal.
He distanced himself from their remarks, describing them as personal opinions.
According to him, such comments were not likely to promote peace.
“Not everything is by ‘oshogbe,’” he cautioned, hinting at his preference for a more strategic and less confrontational approach to the ongoing political crisis.
Fubara further warned that some of the actions taken by some of his supporters, though well-intended, had only worsened his situation.
He urged the attendees to focus on the tribute of Edwin Clark who lived a selfless life advocating for the Niger Delta region and not make it about politics.
Rivers State has been at the centre of a deepening political feud between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who is Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Following the political situation in the state, President Bola Tinubu intervened in December 2023, brokering a peace deal between both sides.
However, on March 18, Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers and suspended Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all the state lawmakers.
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