Ten days after his reinstatement as Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara is yet to reconstitute his cabinet or submit a list of commissioners to the House of Assembly for screening.
Fubara returned to office on 18 September 2025 following the expiration of the six-month state of emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu in March. The emergency rule, which suspended Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and members of the state House of Assembly, was introduced at the height of the political crisis between the Governor and his predecessor, now FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
During the period, retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas served as sole administrator and dissolved the Governor’s cabinet, suspending commissioners, advisers, and personal aides.
Since the resumption of constitutional governance, expectations have risen among Rivers residents and political associates, who have been left in uncertainty over possible reappointment. The Governor is currently without a Chief of Staff or a Secretary to the State Government, as the status of former officials remains unclear.
When contacted, a close aide to the Governor, who requested anonymity, said: “I doubt if most of the commissioners will return because a lot of restructuring is going on behind the scenes. This is the most I can say for now.”
Elder statesman and Convener of Rivers Leaders of Thought, Chief Sunny Chukwumele, urged patience, noting that the Governor had started with key reforms such as dissolving the State Pensions Board. “We would be looking forward to further actions. He also must dissolve the State Independent Electoral Commission,” Chukwumele said. He, however, criticised the House of Assembly for calling on Fubara to submit a budget and commissioner list without first paying him a courtesy visit.
Similarly, the President of the Ijaw Youths Council, Jonathan Lokpobiri, warned against hasty decisions. “You know the Governor is working in a very complex environment at the moment. So I want to presume that he is taking his time wisely so that the mistakes of the past are not repeated,” Lokpobiri stated.
