A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Ekiti State, Senator Ayodele Arise, has defended President Bola Tinubu against critics of his suspension of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the imposition of a six-month state of emergency in the state.
Fubara was reinstated on September 17 after the President lifted the emergency rule. In a broadcast marking his return, the governor described the reconciliation as a major step toward stability in Rivers State.
The crisis originated in March following tensions between Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike’s loyalists in the Rivers State House of Assembly. The feud escalated into impeachment threats, budget blockades, and violent clashes.
Invoking Section 305 of the Constitution, President Tinubu suspended the governor, his deputy, and lawmakers, appointing retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas, a former Chief of Naval Staff, as sole administrator during the emergency.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja, Senator Arise commended the President for preventing Rivers State from descending into chaos. He said, “The situation in Rivers State at the time the emergency rule came into effect was almost getting out of hand. Instigating violence there would have driven away engineers working on the oil rigs and residents in Port Harcourt.”
Arise dismissed claims that the Rivers electorate would revolt against the APC due to the emergency rule. He expressed confidence that President Tinubu would be re-elected in 2027, noting that Fubara and other Niger Delta governors would align with Tinubu’s second-term aspiration.
He added, “Even if Fubara claims otherwise, Wike still controls the political structures, and APC’s success in almost all local governments shows that grassroots influence remains strong. Those in local government positions will act to maintain their positions and endear themselves to the people.”
Senator Arise also noted that Governor Fubara had resolved differences with Minister Wike, whom he described as “our leader,” highlighting a new phase of political stability in Rivers State.
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