Unknown to the supporters waiting to receive him back into the Government House yesterday, reinstated Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara was airborne at the time they were drumming and singing in front of the facility in Port Harcourt.
Fubara and Rivers State House of Assembly members got the nod to return to office as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu terminated the six-month emergency rule at midnight on Wednesday.
In anticipation of his resumption, supporters of the governor thronged the Government House in large numbers as early as 6am drumming and singing, but Fubara was nowhere to be found.
Nobody gave any indication to the crowd as to why he did not turn up.
But Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike dropped the hint last night when he appeared on a national television programme, that Fubara left Europe where he was on vacation yesterday morning.
But the lawmakers has a session presided over by Speaker Martins Amaewhule to signify their return to duties.
During the session, they expressed their readiness to start receiving correspondent from the governor.
During the first post-emergency rule plenary, the lawmakers unfolded plans to review the budget passed during the tenure of Administrator Ibok-Ete Ibas, who bowed out on Wednesday night following a broadcast.
Wike, who assured that peace had returned to the state, said he spoke with Fubara on Wednesday ahead of the lifting of the emergency rule by President Tinubu.
He said stakeholders were now committed to moving the state forward.
He said: “As I speak to you, as of yesterday, I spoke to the governor. I told him I was leaving that night to come back, and he told me he was leaving this morning.
“So, I can tell you that, by the grace of God, peace has returned. And look at what the Assembly did today to set the tone — you can see peace; you can see we are prepared, for the interest of the state. Let’s move forward.”
Asked who among them placed the call to the other, Wike said it is not important who called, adding that what mattered is that there is peace again in the state.
Wike added that he has forgiven Fubara, saying there is no more conflict between him and his successor.
He said: “I have already said that we’ve been speaking. I will not engage with a man I have not forgiven. Everything is over. I am not a politician, who says one thing today and another tomorrow. We must move forward.”
The FCT minister also criticised those he said are opposed to the return of peace in the state, saying they are only interested in fuelling the crisis.
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