Suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has returned to Nigeria after spending two weeks abroad amid the deepening political crisis in the state.
His arrival on Friday evening marks a significant development in the ongoing power struggle that has engulfed the oil-rich region.
Fubara landed at the Port Harcourt International Airport in Omagwa around 7 PM and was immediately received by a small delegation of aides. A video that has since gone viral shows the moment the embattled governor was ushered into a waiting SUV and driven away from the airport under tight security.
Secret Meeting With Tinubu in London
While initial reports claimed that Governor Fubara had traveled to Germany for medical reasons, multiple sources have now confirmed that he also made a discreet stop in London, United Kingdom. There, he reportedly held a closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu.
Though the exact agenda of their discussion remains undisclosed, political analysts believe the conversation revolved around the turmoil in Rivers State, which led to Fubara’s controversial suspension from office.
Backdrop of Political Crisis and State of Emergency
Governor Fubara’s suspension, along with that of his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu, and several members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, followed President Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in the state.
The federal government attributed the move to escalating security threats, including attacks on critical oil infrastructure by militant groups, as well as a prolonged standoff between Fubara and 27 lawmakers in the State Assembly.
The growing tension has been further fueled by allegations of political interference and factional rivalries, with some accusing key figures—including the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike—of meddling in the state’s affairs.
Federal Government Intervention
In a bid to restore order, the federal government has taken an active role in mediating the crisis. Minister Wike is reportedly involved in high-level consultations aimed at bridging the divide between opposing factions and stabilizing the political environment in Rivers.
As Governor Fubara resumes presence in the state, all eyes are now on his next moves and whether a political resolution can be reached to avoid further escalation.
