Hope for the return of suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and members of the state House of Assembly has brightened as the state begins transition activities ahead of the expiration of the six-month emergency rule on September 18, 2025.
The emergency rule, declared by President Bola Tinubu on March 18, 2025, will formally end on Thursday. Ahead of this, the state government has announced an interdenominational church thanksgiving service scheduled for today at the Ecumenical Centre, Abonima Wharf Road, Port Harcourt.
According to a statement by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Ibibia Lucky Worika, the service will begin at 10 am, with dignitaries and invited guests expected to be seated by 9:30 am.
Those invited include permanent secretaries, local government chairmen, heads of security and paramilitary agencies, traditional rulers, board members, captains of industry, and other critical stakeholders. The Rivers State Administrator, Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.), will serve as the special guest of honour.
The transition process comes on the heels of the successful conduct of local government elections in Rivers, which Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, had earlier described as a clear indication that the state was ready to return to democratic governance.
Speaking at Government House in Port Harcourt on Friday while receiving the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) report, Ibas said he had fulfilled the president’s mandate. He cited restored order and relative peace across the state as proof that expectations of both the presidency and the people were met under his administration.
“The Government of Rivers State is pleased to invite the permanent secretaries, local government chairmen, heads of state security and paramilitary agencies, traditional rulers, chairmen and members of boards and governing councils, captains of industries, government officials, and guests to the interdenominational church thanksgiving service, as part of transition activities to usher in democratic governance in Rivers State,” the SSG stated.
The thanksgiving marks a symbolic step toward the reinstatement of Governor Fubara and the state lawmakers, who are expected to return to office once the emergency rule officially lapses.
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