Fubara receives ‘special prayers’ in first public appearance since suspension

Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers state, has made his first public appearance since he was suspended from office.

He was spotted on Sunday at the Salvation Ministries headquarters in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

A statement by Nelson Chukwudi, chief press secretary to the governor, said Fubara was accompanied by top politicians, major stakeholders, elders and leaders of the state, and associates “to express gratitude to God for His love, mercy and unwavering support amid the festering political challenges”.

“A special prayer session was also held for the Governor shortly after the service,” the statement added.

Fubara was accompanied Edison Ehie, his chief of staff; John Azuta-Mbata, president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide; Sam Jaja, former deputy national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); Orits Onyiri; Mike Elechi; and David Briggs.

BACKGROUND

Fubara was suspended on Tuesday following President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of emergency rule in Rivers state. 

The president also suspended Ngozi Odu, the deputy governor, and all house of assembly members for six months.

Tinubu appointed Ibok-Ete Ibas, a retired vice-admiral, as the sole administrator for Rivers.

On Thursday, the senate and the house of representatives controversially ratified Tinubu’s request for the emergency rule. 

Fubara’s suspension has been criticised by Nigerians with governors elected on the platform of the PDP vowing to challenge the Rivers emergency rule in court.

On Thursday, Ibas said his leadership will not condone anyone who seeks to sabotage the peace and stability of the state, adding that there would be “no room for lawlessness”.

On Friday, Ibas said the withheld federation account allocation committee (FAAC) funds have been released to the state.

Early this month, the supreme court affirmed the judgment of a federal high court that barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the accountant-general of the federation from releasing statutory monthly allocations to Rivers state.

The federal high court had stopped the release of funds to Rivers after Siminalayi Fubara, the suspended governor of the state, failed to re-present the 2024 appropriation bill before the Martins Amaewhule-led assembly.

Lateef Fagbemi, the attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and minister of justice, had said the funds would be released if the sole administrator made a request.