RIVERS POLITICS: FUBARA’S GRADUAL HEALING OF OLD WOUNDS

By Nwafor Oji Awala

It is often said that politics, like the River Niger, has its turbulent stretches and its calm flows. In Rivers State, the turbulence that once rocked the political waters now seems to be giving way to a cautious calm, one that signals not just peace, but the maturity of leadership on both sides of a bitter divide.

Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who has had his fair share of political storms since assuming office, is quietly redefining his position, not merely as the occupant of Government House, but as the executive governor in both title and spirit. His recent moves and public pronouncements reveal a leader intent on exercising authority without losing the grace of reconciliation.

Just hours ago, a remarkable scene unfolded in Port Harcourt. The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, shared a platform with none other than Chief Barrister Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, his former political benefactor turned estranged ally. Alongside them sat Rivers’ foremost elders, lawmakers, and party stalwarts, including Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, and several members of the National Assembly.

That meeting, more than a political gathering, was symbolic: it was the handshake that many Rivers people have prayed to see. It was a subtle reminder that even when political rivers overflow their banks, they can still return to their course.

The presence of key political figures: Senators Magnus Abe, George Sekibo, Barry Mpigi, Chief Victor Giadom, and others, was not just for optics. It was an endorsement of reconciliation and a collective statement that Rivers must move forward. The inclusion of respected elders such as Chief Ferdinand Alabraba and Chief OCJ Okocha (SAN) gave the meeting the moral weight of a council of reconciliation, rather than a mere political show of strength.

Governor Fubara, meanwhile, has not abandoned the levers of governance. His recent dissolution of the Rivers State Microfinance Agency Board and the appointment of a new Acting Managing Director, Pastor Jonathan Tobin, remind observers that he remains firmly in charge of the executive arm of government. It was a quiet but pointed move, assertive, lawful, and free of drama. The message was clear: governance continues, even as fences are mended.

Yet, Fubara’s assertiveness is not without its fiery edges. His now-viral interview warning errant officials: “Your punishment is coming, be prepared”, stirred both admiration and criticism. To his supporters, it was the governor’s way of enforcing discipline after years of unchecked political excess. To his critics, it was an unnecessary flex of authority. But beneath the surface, it was another sign that the man once seen as gentle to a fault is now asserting himself as a governor who will not be taken for granted.

Even at public religious events, such as the Independence Day Church Service where he led Rivers stakeholders in thanksgiving, the tone was one of quiet renewal. The sermon that day: “Good News for Nigeria” seemed almost prophetic for Rivers State too. The cleric prayed that the peace returning to the state would be “an enduring one.”

Perhaps that is what we are now witnessing: the slow healing of political wounds, the soft return of trust, and the cautious rebuilding of broken relationships.

Governor Sim Fubara has shown that leadership is not just about winning battles, but about restoring harmony without losing dignity. The Rivers story is shifting, from confrontation to cooperation, from division to dialogue. The governor now sits more comfortably in his chair, not as a man fighting to prove he is in charge, but as one exercising his mandate with growing confidence and control.

The political wounds may still bear scars, but the healing is real. Rivers State, once again, is finding its balance.

(c) Nwafor Oji Awala 

Prime Heritage Magazine