• Demand lift of emergency, Ibas’ exit
• Don’t touch N1.48trn budget, your job is over, activist says
Residents of Rivers State have urged the suspended Governor of the state, Siminalayi Fubara, to make public the conditions for the peace deal he entered with the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
The residents insisted that the situation was no longer about Fubara and Wike, but about the entire citizens of the state; hence, the need to inform them the cost for the reconciliation.
The people also tasked President Bola Tinubu to lift the State of Emergency declared in the state on March 18, 2025, and immediately reinstate Fubara, because, according to them, the reason for the emergency regime has been addressed, following the reconciliation.
Recall that that Tinubu, in March, imposed a State of Emergency in the state sequel to the lingering political crisis that engulfed governance, development and the economy of the state.
The emergency regime was declared after two peace deals conveyed by the President failed; but on Thursday, June 26, the political gladiators, including the Speaker of the State Assembly, Martins Amaehule, met again in the instance of the President and reconciled.
On Saturday, the trio attended a public function in Rivers State and sat close to each other. Fubara later addressed his supporters informing them that the sacrifice for the peace agreement is “heavy” but assured them that he is determined to pay any sacrifice for peace to reign.
Meanwhile, the governor’s speech has since sparked concerns from various quarters.
A lawyer, Mr Justice Williams, believes that Fubara’s decision to reconcile with the FCT Minister is not in the interest of Rivers people.
Williams insisted that the suspended governor should inform Rivers people the exact cost for the reconciliation.
Another citizen, who didn’t disclose his name, expressed concern that the body language of Fubara indicated that he did not negotiate the peace deal but was “cornered and coerced.”
MEANWHILE, a rights activist, Celestine Akpobari, has said that the job of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd) as the Sole Administrator of Rivers state is over.
This remark follows the truce reached by hitherto warring political actors in Rivers State –Fubara, his predecessor, Wike and the state Assembly members.
Akpobari, who is a member of the Governing Council of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), stated this yesterday when he appeared as a guest on Channels Television’s breakfast show, ‘The Morning Brief’.
He also warned Ibas against touching the N1,485,662,592,442 2025 Rivers State Appropriation Bill approved by the Senate on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
