Seventy days after his dramatic return from a six-month emergency rule, Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, finds himself at the epicenter of a mounting governance crisis.
What began
as a celebrated comeback has slowly transformed into a governance blackout,
marked by unfilled appointments, vanishing political allies, and a cabinet that
exists more on paper than in practice.
This Special
Report examines the deepening vacuum, the mystery actors, and the silent power
struggle reshaping Rivers State behind closed doors.
SECTION ONE:
THE RETURN THAT RAISED MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS
Governor
Fubara’s re-entry into office on a chartered aircraft symbolized triumph. Yet
insiders reveal that he returned with conditions attached, stemming from the
peace deal that halted the prolonged political confrontation.
Multiple
senior officials say these conditions may now be paralyzing decision-making.
KEY FINDING:
Fubara is
reportedly constrained by political undertones from the same forces that once
tried to unseat him—creating a conflict between asserting leadership and
maintaining fragile peace.
SECTION TWO:
A GOVERNMENT WITHOUT A CABINET
At the heart
of the crisis is Fubara’s failure to announce a full executive council nearly
two and half months after taking back the reins.
19
Commissioners removed by the Supreme Court have not been replaced Ministries
remain adrift
The Ministry
of Information is without a commissioner after a sudden redeployment
No commissioner-nominee
list has been transmitted to the Assembly
Permanent
secretaries now run ministries—an arrangement experts warn is temporary at best
and dangerous at worst.
EXPERT
ANALYSIS:
Governance
analyst Dr. Amadi Johnstone describes the vacuum as “a slow-motion
administrative shutdown,” adding that “the absence of political heads stalls
project approvals, policy decisions, and inter-agency cooperation.”
SECTION
THREE: THE DISAPPEARING CHIEF OF STAFF
Perhaps the
most glaring puzzle is the sudden disappearance of Chief of Staff Edison Ehie.
Once
inseparable from the governor—accompanying him during his return and appearing
in major events—Ehie has since vanished from public view.
WHAT WE
KNOW:
Ehie was
seen with Fubara immediately upon his return
Days later,
he stopped appearing at state functions as Independent National Electoral
Commission INEC insisted that he remains a member of Rivers State House of
Assembly irrespective of the fact that he had tendered resignation letter from
the legislature. This has created more confusion to the status of Ehie Edison
who holds a Doctoral Law degree from Rivers State University Nkpolu Orowurokwo
Port Harcourt.
No official
statement has been issued regarding his status
Key insiders
confirm pressure from political blocs attempting to force him out
This silence
has fueled intense speculation about an internal cold war and possible
rearrangement of Fubara’s inner circle.
INVESTIGATIVE
LEAD:
Two
top-ranking government officials told this reporter that Ehie’s fate may be
tied to ongoing negotiations with factions seeking to reshape the governor’s
core team.
SECTION
FOUR: ASSEMBLY IN WAITING, STATE IN LIMBO
The Rivers
State House of Assembly wasted no time requesting the governor’s list of
commissioner-nominees after conducting its first sitting since the crisis.
But over 50
days later, the Assembly is still waiting.
Legislators
privately express frustration, describing the governor’s silence as “strange
and potentially destabilizing.”
Implication:
Without
Commissioners: Budget implementation is delayed, New projects cannot commence,
State policies remain in limbo, Donor agencies and partners cannot engage
operationally.
SECTION
FIVE: WHAT IS FUBARA’S STRATEGY?
As Rivers
State drifts, observers are split:
Theory 1:
The Governor is Buying Time
Fubara may
be carefully reorganizing his political team to avoid reigniting conflict.
Theory 2: He
is Operating Under Compulsion
Analysts
suggest he may be walking a tightrope between asserting control and keeping
peace with powerful interests.
Theory 3:
Silent Power Consolidation
Some
insiders claim the governor is quietly purging old influencers before unveiling
a loyal, restructured cabinet.
SECTION SIX:
THE STAKES FOR RIVERS STATE
While
political maneuvering persists, the people of Rivers State pay the price.
Consequences
Already Visible:
Administrative
delays, Project stagnation, Confused civil service hierarchy, Slowed economic
activities, Frustrated investors,
Growing
public uncertainty
Development
experts warn that if the situation persists beyond the next 30–60 days, Rivers
may slip into full governance paralysis.
CONCLUSION:
THE CLOCK IS TICKING
Governor Sim
Fubara stands at a defining crossroads:
Will he
reclaim control and stabilize his government—or will political uncertainties
continue to overshadow his administration?
What happens
in the next weeks will not only determine Fubara’s political legacy but also
shape the future of Rivers State for years to come.
This is a
developing story.
This has
been a Special Investigative Report by
Emeka Amaefula
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