ABUJA, Nigeria – E don finally happen! The long tight grip of emergency rule wey don hold Rivers State for six months don waka. As President Bola Tinubu talk am on September 18, 2025, dem don call back the governor Siminalayi Fubara and him deputy, Ngozi Nma Odu, plus all dem State House of Assembly members to come do wetin dem supposed do. You fit hear the cheer from the people as dem dey hunger for correct governance (because who no like better governance?).
President Tinubu make this announcement for Abuja, as e talk say e don notice say security don better and dem don try settle matter wey make all this wahala start in the first place. According to him, time don reach for Rivers to come back to order and enjoy proper democratic governance.
The emergency rule wey start for March 18 na because of powerful fight wey dey happen between di governor and di lawmakers wey dey support former governor Nyesom Wike. Dis clash bring serious wahala for Port Harcourt and everywhere join, make government no fit function well, so dem call in security agencies to handle di matter.
Now, with dis new announcement, Fubara go return to Government House for Port Harcourt and surely he go meet plenty work wey dey wait for am – including fixing what emergency rule spoil (no one tell you say dem abandon projects?).
Activist Ann-Kio Briggs no too dey jolly, as she talk say people dey look forward to Fubara making sure say e fit do him work without anybody dey hold am down again. She dey worry say the emergency rule period na times wey the people suffer plenty, and now them go want make sure say accountability dey for who don rule during that time.
One public affairs commentator, Darlington Nwauju, hail Tinubu for lifting di emergency rule but con criticize di poor governance wey happen while dey rule dey on. The sanitary condition wey dey for Rivers na clear sign say dem neglect di state. Di people don tire for late salary payments and other wahala wey follow am.
As dem dey celebrate Fubara return, e clear say dem need correct governance wey go show di differently between wetin dey happen and wetin dey supposed happen. According to Prof. Benjamin Okaba, even though dem don lift di emergency rule, na like several years wey di state comot backward because of di time wey dem no dey manage affairs.
The return of Fubara mean plenty expectations from di people of Rivers State. Dem gats hold him and di assembly accountable to make sure say dem utilize this second chance well welle, make dem not just fill di air with sweet talk but dey deliver wetin dem promise. If dem no take am serious, all di joy go be like say na mirage, because everyday struggles go still dey continue.
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor@nnn.ng
