The suspended governor of Rivers State, Governor Sim Fubara, has revealed that he feels depressed over the situation in Rivers State.
He revealed that during his speech to the Muslim faithful who came to pay him Sallah homage at his private residence. During the speech, Fubara said: “We, as humans, might feel a bit depressed because of the situation. Maybe because of what we are seeing, but we might not understand that what is deeper and beyond us has happened,” he said:
“But in everything, we have decided to give glory to the Almighty God. This season is one of love, sharing, and sacrifice. You have come to share in our pain and have made a great sacrifice through your prayers.” He also added that “as Christians, we believe that everything happens for a purpose, and I strongly believe that this situation is leading us toward a greater purpose.”
Stating that his team’s dreams and vision for this state are to create a society where no man is oppressed, Fubara pointed out patience as one very vital virtue required of everyone, including his team in the current state of things. He therefore urged his people to be patient and not to allow anybody to push them into any form of provocation.
He also added that what the instigators want is to destroy the state, create problems, and deny the people the means of livelihood that they currently have in the state, to which he asserted that his team will not allow it.
“We will continue to operate in a peaceful manner and continue to respect every constituted authority to ensure that this state remains the envy of every other state in Nigeria,” he added.
The governor further added that his followers must remain steadfast no matter what they experience. He also urged them to give glory to Almighty God in all things, because he believes that, in the end, they would all emerge stronger.
The speech was made in relation to the recent occurrences in Rivers State. Recall that Governor Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all the members of his college of lawmakers were suspended by President Tinubu.
Also, he declared a state of emergency in the state and appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as the interim administrator to oversee the state’s affairs during this period.
This suspension came in the heat of a political squabble in the state between the executive head and the members of the House of Assembly.
The squabble is an offshoot of the power tussle between Governor Fubara and his immediate predecessor and the current FCT Minister, Nyesome Wike. Reports garnered that the issue began as far back as 2023, not long after Fubara assumed office as the governor of the state.
Further reports stated that Wike played a vital role in bringing Fubara in as Rivers State’s governor. Following this, he wanted to have some level of control over the state, to which Fubara denied him access.
Subsequent issues led to a divide among the House of Assembly members, where about 27 of them defected to the APC and were regarded as Wike’s lawmakers. These sets began to drop threats of impeachment on the governor.
However, these threats were on the process of becoming a reality in 2025 as they began the impeachment process. This was cut short by the six-month suspension declared on both parties by President Tinubu, an action that has come to be regarded as Mr President’s intervention.
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