The Chief Press Secretary to the suspended Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, Nelson Chukwudi, has urged Nigerians to disregard speculations about the governor’s location, assuring the public that Fubara is “safe and doing well.” His comments came amidst mounting social media reports and concerns over the governor’s whereabouts after he was removed from office earlier this week.
In a statement made to reporters on Friday night, Chukwudi dismissed the online rumors and reassured the public that Governor Fubara is not missing, as some had claimed. “Forget about what you are reading on social media. The governor is safe and doing well,” Chukwudi emphasized.
The controversy surrounding Fubara’s removal from office intensified after President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State on March 18, 2025. This decision led to the suspension of Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all members of the State House of Assembly. President Tinubu appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, the former Chief of Naval Staff, as the sole administrator of the state in a bid to address the political crisis that had been escalating in the state.
The decision to suspend Fubara and his government followed a prolonged political feud between the governor and state lawmakers loyal to his predecessor, Nyesom Wike. The conflict had been brewing for months, with tensions running high between Fubara’s administration and the Wike-aligned lawmakers. The disagreement escalated into a full-blown political crisis, which ultimately led to President Tinubu’s intervention and the declaration of a state of emergency in the state.
On Tuesday, March 18, Tinubu’s government took decisive action to place the state under emergency rule. This move involved suspending all elected officials in Rivers State, including Governor Fubara, his deputy, and members of the State House of Assembly. The move aimed at restoring order in the state, which had been plunged into a political deadlock that threatened to destabilize governance in the region.
The declaration of emergency was ratified by the National Assembly on Thursday, after a closed-door session in both chambers, further solidifying the federal government’s decision to take control of the state’s affairs temporarily.
The uncertainty surrounding Fubara’s whereabouts sparked a wave of concern, particularly after the South-South Elders Forum raised alarm on Thursday. Anabs Sara-Igbe, the coordinator of the South-South Elders Forum, expressed worry about the governor’s well-being. He revealed that the forum had been unable to contact Fubara since his suspension and voiced concern over the possibility that the governor may have been detained or harmed.
Sara-Igbe, a prominent Niger Delta activist, highlighted that efforts to reach the governor had been unsuccessful, and there had been no communication from Fubara’s office or his security detail. This led to growing speculation on social media, with some Nigerians demanding clarity on the governor’s status.
However, the Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, swiftly addressed these concerns by confirming that Fubara was safe and well, despite being removed from the Government House along with his family and security personnel. Chukwudi’s statement was an attempt to quell the rumors that had gained traction, particularly on social media platforms, where the hashtag #WhereIsFubara trended for several days.
The suspension of Fubara and his entire administration came as part of a broader response to the political crisis that had gripped Rivers State. The state had seen a severe breakdown in relations between Fubara’s government and lawmakers who were loyal to his predecessor, Nyesom Wike. The lawmakers, many of whom had remained aligned with Wike’s faction of the PDP, had clashed with Fubara over issues of governance and political control.
The feud ultimately reached a point where the federal government felt compelled to intervene. President Tinubu, acting on the advice of his administration, declared a state of emergency in the state, arguing that the situation had escalated to a point where normal governance could not continue. By suspending the entire state government, Tinubu took the unprecedented step of placing the leadership of the state in the hands of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, a retired military officer.
Ibas was appointed as the sole administrator of Rivers State, tasked with overseeing the administration and resolving the political impasse. The move was designed to restore stability and order, allowing for the normalization of governance in the state until a more permanent solution could be found.
The declaration of a state of emergency and the subsequent suspension of Governor Fubara have sparked a wide range of reactions from Nigerians, particularly those from the South-South region. Some have expressed support for the federal government’s decision, arguing that the situation in Rivers State had become untenable and that federal intervention was necessary. Others, however, view the move as an infringement on the rights of the people of Rivers State, questioning the legitimacy of removing elected officials without due process.
The removal of Fubara, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), also carries political implications. The crisis in Rivers State is seen by many as part of a larger political struggle, with the state being a key battleground for power between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the PDP. The intervention of the federal government, under President Tinubu, could be seen as a way to weaken the influence of the PDP in the region.
For now, Fubara’s supporters are hopeful that he will eventually be reinstated, while his opponents believe that the state of emergency is a necessary step toward restoring order. The resolution of the political crisis in Rivers State will likely have significant consequences for the balance of power in the region.
