…My spirit has left that place
Siminalayi Fubara, who was removed as governor of Rivers state, claims he doesn’t actually want his job back. This comes about two months after President Tinubu took emergency control of the state.
Fubara spoke on Sunday during a memorial service in Port Harcourt for Edwin Clark, an important elder who led the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF).
“Have you asked yourself, do you think I’m interested in going back there? I want to ask you—don’t you see how much better I’m doing?” Fubara asked the audience at the service of songs.
“Do you think I’m interested in going back there? If I had my way, I would say this is it. This is the will of God. I don’t wish to go back there. My spirit has left that place.”
At the event, members of the Rivers Elders Forum still called Fubara “governor” in their speeches and said his removal was wrong. But Fubara didn’t want to be associated with these comments. He explained they were just personal opinions that didn’t reflect his own approach to the situation.
Fubara said he believes such comments won’t help create peace in Rivers State.
He also expressed concern that some of his supporters have actually made the political conflict worse through their actions.
Fubara asked everyone to focus on honouring Clark’s memory instead of using the event for political purposes.
The problem started when Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now serving as the federal capital territory (FCT) minister, began a serious political fight in late 2023.
President Tinubu tried to solve the problem in December 2024 by creating a peace agreement between the two politicians.
However, on March 18, the president declared a state of emergency in Rivers. This meant suspending Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all lawmakers in the state.
Tinubu appointed Ibok-Ete Ibas, a retired navy leader, to run the state instead.
This action put the federal government in direct control of Rivers State, eliminating the normal state government structure.
In response, 11 governors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) asked the Supreme Court to rule that Tinubu’s action was illegal.
The national assembly (Nigeria’s congress) fought back, asking the court to dismiss the case. They called it legally flawed and without merit. They even asked for the PDP governors to be fined ₦1 billion for filing what they called a frivolous lawsuit.
In April, Fubara reportedly met with Tinubu in London to discuss the ongoing political crisis that led to his suspension.
