Loyalists of suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara have begun what they describe as a countdown to his anticipated return to office on September 18, 2025, marking exactly six months since President Bola Tinubu imposed emergency rule on the state.
With just one month remaining before the emergency administration expires, supporters of the suspended governor are expressing high expectations for his comeback and the resumption of stalled development projects across the state.
Jerry Omatsogunwa, media aide to Governor Fubara, told Punch that Rivers residents are eagerly awaiting the governor’s return to continue what he described as exemplary leadership. “Expectations for the governor’s return are very high. He had been doing wonderfully well as head of the Rivers State Government,” Omatsogunwa stated.
The aide highlighted several multi-billion-naira projects that were underway before Fubara’s suspension, including the Port Harcourt Ring Road spanning six local government areas, the Omoku-Elele Road, and the Trans Kalabari Road. He expressed confidence that these initiatives would be accelerated upon the governor’s return.
“The expectation is that these projects will be revived immediately so they don’t suffer setbacks,” Omatsogunwa explained, adding that from Monday, August 18, “the countdown for the return of the most loved governor in Rivers State will begin.”
President Tinubu had declared the state of emergency on March 18, 2025, citing the prolonged political crisis between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike. The emergency rule resulted in the suspension of Fubara, his deputy, and members of the State House of Assembly.
Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas was appointed as Sole Administrator with a mandate to restore political stability to the oil-rich state. As his tenure approaches its constitutional end, Ibas has reaffirmed his commitment to vacating office as scheduled.
Through his Senior Special Adviser on Media, Hector Igbikiowubo, the administrator emphasized his dedication to completing ongoing projects before the transition. Ibas has been conducting tours of project sites to ensure contractors are meeting specifications and that work continues without delays.
Regarding the new State House of Assembly complex, Igbikiowubo reported that construction has reached an advanced stage, with hopes that work will proceed smoothly during the transition period. He noted that funding arrangements for key projects and other state priorities are being addressed to ensure continuity.
“When you have a construction project ongoing and the contractor has been mobilised, there is a limit to how much you can push,” Igbikiowubo explained, emphasizing the administrator’s commitment to maintaining project quality despite time constraints.
The emergency administrator has also overseen preparations for local government elections to restore democratic governance at the grassroots level, with the National Assembly approving the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission to proceed with the polls.
As September 18 approaches, political observers are closely watching developments in Rivers State, where the return of Governor Fubara could reignite the political tensions that originally prompted federal intervention in the state’s affairs.
