Yesterday, the reinstated Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara was still airborne while supporters were waiting, drumming and singing to receive him back into the Government House.
Recall that the governor and entire 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 had a session presided over by Speaker Martins Amaewhule to signify their return to duties.
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.”
