Rivers State Governor Siminialayi Fubara has publicly stated that he has “suffered too much” due to his prolonged silence in the face of the ongoing political crisis in the state. Speaking at the commissioning of a road project, the governor broke his quiet stance, attributing his difficulties to allowing only one narrative—not his own—to dominate the public discourse surrounding the conflict.
Governor Fubara directly addressed his strained relationship with the state’s House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule. He insisted that he has made every effort to meet with the lawmakers to resolve their differences but has been unsuccessful. According to Fubara, the legislators have been unwilling to attend any meeting unless it is specifically convened by the former governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, whom Fubara referred to as “my leader.” The governor expressed frustration that a meeting arranged through these channels has yet to materialize.
Fubara used the occasion to reaffirm his administration’s commitment to development and his alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s “renewed hope agenda.” He explained that his decision to leave the Peoples Democratic Party for the All Progressives Congress was not a personal choice but was made in the interest of fostering unity and development within Rivers State. The governor stressed that progress is impossible in an atmosphere of continuous disunity and rancor.
In a direct appeal for peace, Governor Fubara declared he holds no personal anger or disagreement with any member of the state or national assemblies. He pleaded for cooperation, stating, “Please, we need to come together for the interest of this state. It is not about me. It is about this state.” By publicly telling his side of the story, Fubara aims to correct what he calls the “pure lies” being circulated about his unwillingness to engage and seeks to pave a new path toward political reconciliation.
