Thousands of supporters who had gathered at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Thursday morning to welcome Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara left dissatisfied after waiting for hours.
Many supporters, who arrived as early as 6 a.m. from all over the state, including rural areas, began leaving the Government House door between 12 noon and 1 p.m.
Some of their leaders, including the immediate past local government chairmen loyal to Fubara, were observed making frantic phone calls while the governor’s whereabouts remained unclear as of 1 p.m.
Among the ousted LG chairmen who led their supporters to the Government House in expectation of the governor’s homecoming were former Obio/Akpor chairman Chijoke Ihunwo and his Port Harcourt City counterpart, Ezebunwo Itche-Mati, among others.
Meanwhile, no supporters of Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, including recently elected LG chairmen, were visible at Government House.
Some of those observed exiting the Government House entrance expressed dissatisfaction with the governor’s absence after waiting for several hours.
“We are going because we are hungry. Maybe when the governor comes, we will return,” one of them said.
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The development coincided with the expiration of the state’s six-month emergency rule imposed following tensions between the governor and the Assembly, which is mostly dominated by supporters of Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike.
President Bola Tinubu lifted the State of Emergency in Rivers State in March, following months of political upheaval that paralyzed governance and jeopardized security in the oil-rich state.
The president selected Ibas as administrator after dissolving political entities to restore order.
However, Tinubu formally proclaimed the end of the State of Emergency in Rivers State on Wednesday, paving the door for the state’s return to full democratic administration.
