Port Harcourt, March 23, 2025| Five days after his suspension rocked Rivers State, Governor Siminalayi Fubara emerged from the shadows today, making his first public appearance at a church service in the heart of Port Harcourt. The embattled governor, flanked by his Chief of Staff Edison Ehie, walked into Salvation Ministries’ headquarters in the Government Reservation Area (GRA), greeted by a mix of warm cheers and curious stares. For a city and a state, reeling from political upheaval, it was a moment that quelled rumors and reignited hope among his supporters.
The sighting comes on the heels of President Bola Tinubu’s dramatic declaration of a six-month state of emergency in Rivers State last Tuesday, March 18. Citing a breakdown of law and order amid a festering political crisis, Tinubu suspended Fubara, his deputy Prof. Ngozi Odu, and the entire Rivers State House of Assembly, appointing retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as Sole Administrator. Since then, Fubara’s whereabouts had been a mystery, with whispers suggesting he’d fled to neighboring Bayelsa State. Today, those speculations were laid to rest as he stood tall, albeit quietly, in his home turf.
“I was so relieved to see him,” said Chioma Eze, a congregant who’d joined the Sunday service. “We’ve been hearing all sorts some even said he wasn’t safe. But there he was, praying with us.” Fubara’s presence wasn’t just a personal statement; it carried weight for a community grappling with uncertainty. Accompanied by a modest convoy noticeably absent the governor’s official flag the visit felt subdued yet defiant, a signal he’s not fading into the background.
The Salvation Ministries service, led by Pastor David Ibiyeomie, doubled as a spiritual refuge and a subtle rallying point. Sources close to the event said Fubara was there to give thanks, leaning on faith amid a storm that’s pitted him against powerful foes, including his predecessor and current Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike. The rift between the two has fueled Rivers’ political turmoil, with recent explosions at oil facilities like the one at NLNG’s Soku field today adding to the tension Tinubu cited in his emergency decree.
For Fubara, the day was about more than showing face. Posts on X captured the buzz, with users like @jimdave2012 noting his low-key arrival “without heavy security,” a contrast to the chaos that’s defined recent weeks. Others, like @thecableng, highlighted a “special prayers” session held for him, a nod to the spiritual lifeline he’s clinging to. “He looked calm, but you could see the weight on him,” said Daniel Okoro, a local trader who caught a glimpse outside the church. “We just want peace whatever it takes.”
The state police command, meanwhile, stayed mum on specifics, with spokesperson Irene Ugbo offering no comment beyond confirming Fubara’s safety. But the timing of his reappearance hours after another explosion rocked Rivers underscored the stakes. Tinubu’s Sole Administrator has already moved to release withheld state funds and tighten security, yet the governor’s supporters see his outing as a quiet pushback against being sidelined.
In the pews, Fubara wasn’t alone. Key allies like Ehie stood by him, a show of solidarity amid a crisis that’s split loyalties across the state. “He’s still our governor,” said Mercy Amadi, a civil servant who joined the service. “Suspension or not, we know who we voted for.” That sentiment, echoed online and on the streets, hints at a brewing defiance one that could test the emergency rule’s grip.
As dusk settled over Port Harcourt, Fubara slipped back into private quarters, leaving behind a city abuzz with questions. Was this a one-off appearance or the start of a comeback? For now, his step into the light has calmed some nerves but in a state where politics and peril collide, the road ahead remains anything but certain.