Jubilant Return: Fubara’s Core Loyalists Storm Government House Gates in Port Harcourt, Ushering in Post-Emergency Era
Port Harcourt, Nigeria – Waves of euphoria swept through the oil-rich heart of Rivers State on Thursday as core loyalists of reinstated Governor Siminalayi Fubara thronged the gates of the Government House in Port Harcourt, transforming the official residence into a makeshift carnival of drums, chants, and unbridled solidarity. The spontaneous gathering, swelling into the hundreds by mid-morning, marked the governor’s triumphant homecoming just hours after President Bola Tinubu’s dramatic announcement lifting the six-month state of emergency that had plunged the Niger Delta powerhouse into federal oversight.
Supporters, hailing from across the state’s 23 local government areas, spilled onto the bustling Azikiwe–Old Port Harcourt Township Road, waving flags emblazoned with Fubara’s image and belting out pro-governor anthems under a relentless sun. Among the vanguard was Victor Oko-Jumbo, the former Speaker of the now-dissolved three-man House of Assembly loyal to Fubara, who joined the fray alongside key allies like Darlington Orji, Sokare Goodboy, and Ezebunwo Ichemati. The crowd’s energy turned the approach into a gridlocked sea of red-and-white banners—Fubara’s campaign colors—bearing slogans like “Fubara Has Come Back Stronger” and “Rivers Rises Again.” Some danced with traditional Ijaw drums, others hoisted placards demanding an end to the lingering shadows of the political feud that birthed the crisis.
The spectacle unfolded against the backdrop of Tinubu’s Wednesday evening broadcast, where the president declared the emergency—imposed on March 18 amid a vicious standoff between Fubara and his erstwhile mentor, Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike—had served its purpose in restoring order. Effective midnight September 17, the suspension of democratic institutions lifted, paving the way for Fubara, Deputy Governor Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, and the fractious State House of Assembly—including pro-Wike Speaker Martins Amaewhule—to resume duties immediately. Tinubu, acknowledging over 40 lawsuits challenging the initial declaration, defended the interlude as a necessary bulwark against “anarchy,” crediting traditional rulers and local stakeholders for their restraint during the turmoil that saw oil production falter and pipelines vandalized.
For Fubara’s camp, the loyalists’ siege symbolized vindication after months of limbo. “We’ve waited too long for this day—Governor Fubara is back to lead us to prosperity,” Oko-Jumbo told reporters amid the throng, his voice rising over the rhythmic beats. Speculation swirled on whether the governor, en route from Abuja, would pause at the gates for an impromptu address—a gesture supporters hoped would ignite the next phase of his mandate. As of midday, Fubara’s arrival remained unconfirmed, but the atmosphere crackled with anticipation, a far cry from the armored vehicles and soldier patrols that had fortified the compound back in March.
The jubilation, however, masked deeper fault lines. The emergency’s end rekindles the Wike-Fubara rift that splintered the assembly into warring factions—27 pro-Wike lawmakers versus Fubara’s four—triggering the constitutional meltdown Tinubu cited as justification for intervention. PANDEF’s Board of Trustees had earlier hailed the lift as a “bold step,” urging unity, but whispers of reprisals and fresh legal salvos linger. With Rivers as Nigeria’s crude lifeline, any relapse could ripple through global energy markets, amplifying calls for dialogue.
As the sun dipped toward the Bonny River, the crowd’s chants echoed a fragile hope: that Fubara’s return heralds not just celebration, but lasting peace in this powder keg of politics and petroleum. Whether the gates swing open to reconciliation or renewed rivalry remains the day’s unanswered chorus.
Sources: Naija News, The Nation Newspaper, Legit.ng, Punch, Leadership NG.