The people of Rivers State have expressed happiness over the return of Governor Sim Fubara, according to Anabs Sara-Igbe, National Coordinator of the South-South Elders Forum in Rivers State. Sara-Igbe made this statement during an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Prime Time’ program, where he noted that the state had come to a standstill during the governor’s absence.

Governor Fubara was suspended in March by President Bola Tinubu, along with his deputy and state lawmakers, following the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State. However, the emergency rule was lifted on Wednesday, and the governor was subsequently reinstated. Sara-Igbe attributed the excitement among Rivers State residents to the governor’s reputation for initiating projects, stating that Fubara had projects underway in all 23 local government areas of the state.

These projects, however, were put on hold for the past six months, raising concerns about the management of state funds during the interim period. Sara-Igbe questioned the actions of the Sole Administrator, Ibok Ekwe Ibas, who was in charge during the governor’s suspension, asking what had been done with the state’s money. The reinstatement of Governor Fubara is expected to revive these projects and restore activity in the state.

The suspension of Governor Fubara and the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State had significant implications for the region, bringing many activities to a halt. With the lifting of the emergency rule and the governor’s return, residents are hopeful that development projects will resume, and the state will return to normalcy. The situation in Rivers State will likely be closely monitored in the coming days as the state seeks to recover from the period of uncertainty.