Siminalayi Fubara has made his public debut for the first time since he was suspended from office after the declaration of an emergency state in the state.
The governor’s Sunday appearance came just days after President Bola Tinubu, citing the escalating tensions in Rivers, declared a State of Emergency in Rivers, on Tuesday, 19th March. Fubara and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu were suspended as part of emergency measures. Tinubu replaced them by appointing Ibok-Ete Ibas to be the sole administrator of the state for an initial six month period.
The decision has been met with mixed reactions by political actors, lawyers, and civil societies groups. The newly appointed sole administrator has taken immediate steps to assert his authority. Since taking office, he’s held emergency security meeting with law enforcement agencies and traditional leaders, as well as local government administrators. In these meetings, he announced the release of state allocations that had been withheld and ordered the immediate payment of local government employees.
Edison Ehie, Chief of Staff to Governor Fubara, attended the church service
