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September 18, 2025 by Lawal Ogienagbon

Today, the six-month state of emergency in Rivers lapses. The suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara may return to work today or tomorrow, along with his deputy and the House of Assembly members. The emergency rule was for a reason – to restore law and order and governance in the state in the wake of the Supreme Court verdict that anarchy loomed there then.
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Of course, not everybody supported the emergency rule, especially the suspension of Fubara. All that is behind us now as a nation. Going forward from today, it is in the interest of Fubara and the other returnees to build on the legacy of peace of the outgoing Administrator Ibok-Ette Ibas. Let peace endure in the Garden City so that the people can feel the impact of governance.
The difference between being in and out of office should be clear to the returnees by now. Thus, it will be foolhardy for anyone to allow lightning to strike him twice.