While tension persists in Rivers State over the six months suspension of an elected governor and lawmakers, and the installation of sole administrator by Tinubu, individuals are beginning to call for the reinstatement of Governor Fubara.
On his 54th birthday anniversary on the 12th of April, celebrated in his compound, High Chief Oweizide Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Ebidouwei of Ijaw Nation, announced that Fubara will return to his throne as the governor of Rivers state.
This announcement was contained in a video that has been circulating over the internet. One of the posters of this news, a social media user and a Fubara loyalist, known as @big_sinudo took to his X account to greet the good people of the Rivers State before making the post.
The video showed the High Chief making a speech on his birthday where he talked about the governors of the South South Region with focus on Bayelsa and Rivers State.
It was then that Chief Ekpemupolo of Gbaramatu Kingdom declared that Fubara would still come back as the governor of Rivers State. He mentioned: “Our son Siminalayi Fubara will return and sit on the throne.”
The chief who is from one the most influential communities in the Niger-Delta region also added that he and the former governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike are friends. He also revealed that it was the Ijaw people who installed Wike as the then governor of Rivers State. Speaking of Wike’s successor, the chief revealed that when Wike was leaving office, without consulting anyone , he installed Fubara; hence, Fubara’s return is conditioned on his rebuilding his shattered relationship with Nyesom Wike. He added that Fubara’s return is through dialogue and mediation between himself and Nyesom.
He noted that Governor Fubara is an Ijaw man; as result, the Ijaw elders will be pivotal in mediating between him and Nyesom Wike.
Meanwhile there have been reports of protests taking place in Rivers State by the people of Rivers State demanding that the Sole Administrator should be removed and Fubara reinstalled. Also, on social media, especially, on X, the hashtag #BringBackFubara has been trending.
Netizens have never stopped airing their views since the day of the twin event by President Tinubu where he suspended Governor Fubara and the members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, and installed Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Rtd) as the Sole Administrator. One user, @Ejoonyeishi , warned that: “Tinubu and Wike should be very careful in their dirty politics bcuz Ijaws are watching.”
On the other hand, under @big_sinudo’s tweet, comments netizens have been asserting that Fubara represents light and peace which are lacking current in Rivers State, hence the need for his urgent reinstatement. Others called out Wike for the part he played in the case. Some others took opposite stands.
While some hailed the High Chief for taking a stand, others stated that he and other chiefs can’t do anything to help Fubara as they are all under the government’s payroll. A user observed that the only people that can really do anything to bring back Fubara are the citizens of Rivers State and this can only be achieved through protest.
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