Suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has reportedly relocated with his family to neighboring Bayelsa State following President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers. The move comes in the wake of Tinubu’s March 18 intervention, which led to the suspension of Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months.
Tinubu’s drastic decision was aimed at restoring order in Rivers State, which has been engulfed in months of political turmoil. The crisis stemmed from an ongoing power struggle between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who now serves as the Federal Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. The prolonged conflict resulted in violent confrontations, legislative gridlock, and multiple court battles, leaving the state in political disarray.
In response to the escalating crisis, Tinubu appointed former Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State. Admiral Ibas has been tasked with stabilizing the state’s governance during the emergency period, a responsibility that comes with significant challenges given the deep divisions among political stakeholders.
According to sources cited by *TheStreetJournal*, Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri offered refuge to Fubara and his family. By March 19, Fubara had discreetly relocated to the Bayelsa State Government House from the Rivers Government House in Port Harcourt, accompanied by a scaled-down security detail. “He left quietly, avoiding any public attention,” an insider revealed.
Despite Fubara’s departure, security remains tight around the Rivers State Government House. Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) and other security forces continue to guard the premises, though eyewitnesses described the atmosphere as “unusually calm” in contrast to the recent upheavals that had gripped the state.
