Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has commended President Bola Tinubu for his intervention in the state’s prolonged political crisis, describing the President’s role in resolving the dispute as that of a statesman.
Fubara expressed his appreciation on Saturday while speaking at the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally in Port Harcourt, where he called on political leaders and their supporters to put aside their differences and embrace reconciliation in the interest of Rivers State.
The governor declared that the state could no longer afford prolonged political hostilities, insisting that residents had suffered enough from the disagreements among political leaders.
“The time of war is over; it’s time of peace. We cannot continue to fight and expect the state to move forward,” Fubara said.
He maintained that the political crisis had affected not only those directly involved in the disagreement but also ordinary residents who had continued to bear the consequences of the prolonged confrontation.
According to him, political leaders must now prioritise forgiveness, unity and collective responsibility rather than allowing personal interests and political disagreements to undermine the development of the state.
“We have wasted enough time fighting. Now is the time to build. Now is the time to work for the people,” the governor said.
Fubara further described the APC rally as evidence that Rivers State was gradually turning a new page, pointing to the appearance of political figures who had previously been on opposing sides of the crisis on the same political platform.
His remarks come against the backdrop of the prolonged political disagreement between him and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who currently serves as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The political crisis began months after Fubara assumed office in May 2023 and escalated into a fierce confrontation between the governor and lawmakers loyal to Wike.
The disagreement triggered a series of political and legislative battles, including attempts to impeach the governor, divisions within the Rivers State House of Assembly and disruptions to governance in the oil-rich state.
The crisis eventually prompted President Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State on March 18, 2025, suspending Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the State House of Assembly for six months.
Tinubu subsequently lifted the emergency rule in September 2025, restoring democratic governance and paving the way for Fubara’s return to office.
Following his reinstatement, the governor publicly acknowledged the President’s intervention, describing it as fatherly and decisive in addressing the political disagreement that had plunged the state into prolonged uncertainty.
Fubara has since repeatedly called for reconciliation among political stakeholders, assuring residents that his administration would prioritise peace, stability and development.
His latest appeal comes amid renewed political mobilisation in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the governor urging political leaders and their supporters to place the collective interests of the state above personal ambitions and partisan disagreements.