Rivers Politics Heats Up As APC Declares Readiness To Team Up With Fubara – Okocha

The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced its readiness to cooperate with suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara once he resumes office on September 18.

State party chairman, Tony Okocha, made this known during a press briefing in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, emphasizing that working with the governor would not stop the APC from carrying out its role as the leading opposition in the state.

He said: “The suspended governor will return to office on September 18. The APC will work with him when he returns.”

Okocha further explained that while the party would collaborate with Fubara and local government chairmen on governance, it would not hesitate to offer constructive criticism where necessary.

“There are states where governors and assembly members belong to different parties, and they still work together. We will work with him, but that will not stop us from criticizing policies we consider harmful. We will not support any vicious policies,” he added.

Governor Fubara was suspended on March 18 by President Bola Tinubu, who declared a state of emergency in Rivers State following heightened political unrest.

According to Tinubu, the governor failed to address militant activities allegedly linked to him, which included attacks on oil facilities in the state, sparking fears of widespread instability.

Following the suspension, Tinubu appointed former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), as the state’s Administrator for an initial six-month term, which is now set to end with Fubara’s reinstatement.