Reinstated Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara did not return to the Government House in Port Harcourt on Thursday, a day after President Bola Tinubu lifted the six-month emergency rule that had suspended his administration.

Thousands of supporters thronged the Government House gates from the early hours, with music, dancing, and fanfare, expecting Fubara to make a public appearance. Their excitement, however, turned to disappointment as the governor neither showed up nor made a formal broadcast.

The reason for his absence later became clear when Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike disclosed during a national TV interview that Fubara had only just left Europe, where he had been vacationing, on Thursday morning. Wike, who confirmed he had spoken with the governor a day earlier, assured that peace had returned to the state following the president’s intervention.

“I have already said that we’ve been speaking. I will not engage with a man I have not forgiven. Everything is over. I am not a politician who says one thing today and another tomorrow. We must move forward,” Wike said, stressing that efforts to reignite tensions in the state would not succeed.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State House of Assembly reconvened for the first time since the emergency rule. Led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, the lawmakers pledged readiness to resume full legislative functions, announced plans to review the state budget passed under outgoing administrator Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), and requested a list of commissioner-nominees from the governor.

Rear Admiral Ibas, who had served as administrator throughout the emergency period, formally bowed out of office on Wednesday night after delivering a statewide farewell broadcast.