Fubara has declared political peace with Wike and vowed to revive Rivers State seaports for economic growth.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has confirmed that political tensions with his benefactor, former Governor and current FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, have been resolved, bringing “proper peace” back to the state after months of crisis.
Speaking in Abuja on Monday after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa, Fubara said he has resumed his duties in an atmosphere of cooperation. “As far as I’m concerned, we have made peace. Fubara and his principal are working together,” he stated.
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The governor described his visit to President Tinubu as a courtesy call to seek guidance following the expiration of the six-month emergency rule that had suspended him and other state officials in March. “It’s a father-son discussion, telling him thank you, and the areas where, if at all, there should be any issue for him to guide me properly so we don’t get in any situation of crisis,” he said.
The emergency rule, lifted on September 17, restored governance in Rivers State after a political impasse between Fubara and Wike had paralyzed the state, with the Supreme Court previously declaring that “there was no government in Rivers State.” The crisis also coincided with attacks on vital pipelines in the oil-rich region.
Addressing economic development, Fubara lamented the underutilization of Port Harcourt and Onne seaports, warning that failure to maximize their capacity continues to cost Rivers and Nigeria jobs, investments, and industrial growth.
Receiving the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Board, led by Chairman Senator Adeyeye Adedayo Clement, at Government House, Port Harcourt, Fubara emphasized the strategic importance of the ports. “Imagine if Onne Port was working at full capacity—the level of activities around Eleme, Tai, and surrounding areas would transform the entire state’s economy,” he said.
He stressed that revitalizing port activities would create jobs, attract industries, boost investor confidence, and generate higher tax revenues. Fubara also highlighted the relative peace in Rivers under his administration, noting smoother relations between host communities, government, and the port authority.
On infrastructure, the governor criticized the poor federal roads linking the ports but pledged state support through traffic management and complementary measures. He also promised enhanced security at the port precincts, including the establishment of a new police station, linking increased port activity to reduced unemployment and youth restiveness.
Fubara further warned against encroachment on port lands and pledged collaboration with the NPA to address flooding caused by poor access roads and drainage. Commending the NPA Board for partnering with the state on intervention projects, he urged them to transform the seaports into engines of economic growth rather than “monuments of neglect.”
Senator Adeyeye Adedayo Clement reaffirmed the NPA’s commitment to revitalizing Port Harcourt and Onne seaports, seeking state support for road rehabilitation, environmental cleanliness, curbing illegal truck parking, and establishing a police post to address security concerns.
The governor’s remarks signal a new era of political stability and economic focus in Rivers State, with concerted efforts underway to leverage its strategic ports for industrial and commercial growth.
