The suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, made his first public appearance on Sunday following his removal from office.
Fubara was sighted at the Salvation Ministry in Port Harcourt, where he worships regularly, dispelling rumours about his whereabouts.
A senior pastor warmly received him and ushered him into the church service.
Fubara arrived with a modest convoy with no official governor’s flag or seal.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Nelson Chukwudi, said Fubara was accompanied by top politicians, major stakeholders, elders and leaders of the state, and associates “to express gratitude to God for His love, mercy and unwavering support amid the festering political challenges.”
“A special prayer session was also held for the Governor shortly after the service,” the statement added.
Fubara was accompanied by his Chief of Staff, Edison Ehie; President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, John Azuta-Mbata; a former Deputy National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, Sam Jaja; Orits Onyiri; Mike Elechi and David Briggs.
Fubara was suspended on Tuesday following President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State.
The president also suspended the deputy governor, Ngozi Odu, and all House of Assembly members for six months.
Tinubu appointed a retired Vice-Admiral, Ibok-Ete Ibas, as the sole administrator for Rivers.
On Thursday, the Senate and the House of Representatives controversially ratified Tinubu’s request for the emergency rule.
Fubara’s suspension has been criticized by Nigerians with governors elected on the platform of the PDP vowing to challenge the Rivers emergency rule in court.
On Thursday, Ibas said his leadership will not condone anyone who seeks to sabotage the peace and stability of the state, adding that there would be “no room for lawlessness”.
On Friday, Ibas said the withheld federation account allocation committee funds have been released to the state.
Early this month, the Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of a federal high court that barred the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Accountant General of the Federation from releasing statutory monthly allocations to Rivers State.
The federal high court had stopped the release of funds to Rivers after Fubara failed to re-present the 2024 appropriation bill before the Martins Amaewhule-led assembly.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, had said the funds would be released if the sole administrator made a request.