Suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, has spoken publicly for the first time since his removal from office, declaring that “no king lives forever,” in what many interpret as a veiled message directed at his political adversaries.
Fubara, addressing a gathering in Bonny over the weekend, reflected on the ongoing political crisis in the state, following his fallout with his predecessor and current Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike.
The federal government had in March declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, citing escalating political tensions. This led to the suspension of Fubara and the appointment of retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as Sole Administrator to oversee the state for six months.
In his emotional speech, Fubara insisted that history would vindicate his actions.
“Everybody will not appreciate your style, but when you know you are doing the right thing, and you’re confident that in 25 to 30 years you can defend your decisions, that’s what makes you a man,” he said.
He added, “No king lives forever, and no authority lasts forever. What matters is what you do while in power whether your actions speak for you long after you’ve left.”
The embattled governor also rejected attempts to rebrand or silence him:
“Some have accused me of many things, but I can’t pretend to be someone I am not. I am who I am.”
Encouraging his supporters, Fubara said:
“Be strong. Sometimes you need to lose to win. I’ve never seen myself as losing anything because I don’t tie my life to positions.”
“In the end, our victory will come because we are standing on a solid rock.”
Despite his suspension, Fubara has met twice with President Bola Tinubu and Minister Nyesom Wike in attempts to resolve the political crisis and restore peace to Rivers State.
