Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Monday night met with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, days after resuming official duties following the lifting of emergency rule in the state.
Speaking with State House correspondents after the meeting, Fubara described the interaction with the President as a “father-son discussion,” noting that Tinubu offered him advice on steering the affairs of the oil-rich state without crisis.
“You are aware that suspension was lifted at midnight on the 17th, and I came in on the 19th. Ideally, it’s proper for me to see Mr President and to tell him that I am back, and I have also resumed my responsibility as the governor of Rivers State,” he said.
“It was not much. It was a father-son discussion. I was thanking him and also pointing out areas where there could be issues for him to guide me properly so we don’t run into any crisis.”
President Tinubu had, on September 17, announced the end of the emergency rule imposed on Rivers State since March 18, directing Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the State House of Assembly to return to their offices.
During the six-month suspension of democratic institutions in the state, the President appointed retired Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as sole administrator to oversee the state.
Although Fubara was expected to resume immediately after the suspension was lifted, he returned from abroad on September 19 to a rousing welcome in Port Harcourt by supporters.
Reiterating that peace had been restored, the governor said, “As far as I’m concerned, we have made peace. Fubara and his principal are working together.”
On his return to office last week, Fubara had told Rivers people that he resisted pressure to challenge the constitutionality of the emergency rule, stressing that his priority was restoring stability in the state.
