Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has finally landed in Port Harcourt, the state capital, days after his reinstatement by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Fubara arrived at the Port Harcourt International Airport around 11:50 a.m. on Friday, where a jubilant crowd had gathered at the VIP wing to welcome him back.
His return comes more than 24 hours after Tinubu announced the end of the six-month emergency rule in Rivers.
While the Rivers House of Assembly reconvened on Thursday, Fubara was absent at Government House, leaving hundreds of supporters who had converged to receive him visibly disappointed.
His predecessor and now FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, however, clarified on Politics Today that the governor was not legally bound to resume duties immediately on Thursday.
Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, had been sidelined from governance for six months after Tinubu imposed emergency rule on March 18, citing political turmoil in the state.
During that period, retired Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas served as sole administrator. He handed over power on Wednesday night, urging all political stakeholders in a farewell broadcast to embrace mutual respect and dialogue for Rivers’ stability.
