Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, received a hero’s welcome on Friday as he landed at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, just hours after President Bola Tinubu lifted the emergency rule on the state.
His flight touched down around 11:55 am to the sight of hundreds of loyal supporters who had gathered, singing and cheering as he stepped off the plane. It was his first public appearance in Rivers since his reinstatement, and the energy in the crowd made it clear how eagerly his return was awaited.
Only days earlier, President Tinubu had announced the suspension of the six-month emergency rule declared in the state, which stemmed from a prolonged political standoff between Governor Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. The President directed Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Nma Odu, and members of the State Assembly to immediately resume their official duties.
Lawmakers had already held their first sitting on Thursday at the Assembly Quarters, but the governor’s absence from Government House left many speculating. His arrival at the airport, however, ended the uncertainty, signaling a return to office after months of political turbulence.
With his comeback now official, all eyes are on Governor Fubara as he steps back into leadership, carrying both the weight of past challenges and the hopes of his supporters.
