Do you think I am interested in it? Do you even know if I want to go back there? My spirit has already left that place long ago.
Siminalayi Fubara, the suspended Governor Rivers State, has publicly stated that he is not desperate to regain his office. This declaration was made during a service of songs held in Port Harcourt to honor the late elder statesman, Edwin Clark.
At the event, several speakers passionately referred to Fubara as “Governor” and vehemently criticized his suspension. They called for the immediate reversal of the suspension, expressing strong support for Fubara’s return to office.
However, Fubara chose to distance himself from these remarks, characterizing them as personal opinions rather than official statements.
Fubara emphasized that comments demanding his immediate return to office were unlikely to promote peace in the state. By doing so, he suggested that he is prioritizing stability and peace over personal interests.
The suspension of Fubara has been a highly contentious issue, with various stakeholders in Rivers State holding differing opinions on the matter. By stating that he is not desperate to return to office, Fubara may be signaling his willingness to engage in dialogue or seek a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
Fubara said, “Can’t you see how better I look? Do you think I am interested in it? Do you even know if I want to go back there? My spirit has already left that place long ago.
“Not everything is by Oshogbe, I want everybody to focus, there are some fights you don’t fight.”
Recall that Fubara was suspended from office under a state of emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu on March 18, 2025, citing a breakdown in governance. This move suspended Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all members of the state legislature, with Ibok-Ete Ibas, a retired Chief of Naval Staff, appointed as the sole administrator.
The crisis began with a disagreement between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
Despite a peace agreement brokered by President Tinubu in December 2024, the accord quickly unraveled.
The President declared a state of emergency, citing a breakdown in governance, and suspended the state government structure ¹ ².
11 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors filed a suit at the Supreme Court challenging the legality of the President’s actions.
The National Assembly urged the Supreme Court to dismiss the suit, arguing it is procedurally defective and lacking in merit.
Fubara has stated he’s not desperate to return to office, saying “my spirit has already left that place long ago” and cautioned his supporters against confrontational approaches.