Suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Wednesday, welcomed the immediate past chairmen of the 23 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state at his private residence in Port Harcourt.
The visit was led by Prince Ezebunwo Ichemati, former chairman of the Rivers State chapter of the Association of Local Government Chairmen of Nigeria (ALGON) and former Mayor of Port Harcourt City Local Government Council. The former LG chairmen expressed their unwavering support for Fubara and his administration’s “Rivers First” agenda.
In a statement released by Fubara’s Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, the delegation reaffirmed their loyalty to the governor and urged Rivers residents to stand by him amid the ongoing political crisis. They also prayed for divine intervention, emphasizing the need for unity and lawfulness to prevent external forces from exploiting the situation.
Fubara was suspended on March 18 by President Bola Tinubu, along with his deputy, Ngozi Nma Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. The suspension followed the President’s declaration of a six-month state of emergency in Rivers due to prolonged political tensions, which he claimed posed a threat to national security.
In Fubara’s absence, Tinubu appointed retired Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as Sole Administrator to oversee the state’s affairs for the duration of the suspension.
