Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has commended President Bola Tinubu for his intervention in the political crisis that threatened his administration, describing the President as a true statesman whose conciliatory efforts helped restore peace and stability in the state.
Fubara also pledged to deliver at least three million votes for Tinubu in the January 16, 2027, presidential election, declaring that the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would work together under the Rainbow Coalition to secure the President’s re-election.
The governor made the remarks on Saturday, November 7, 2026, during the flag-off of the APC’s South-South presidential campaign at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Speaking at the event, Fubara expressed appreciation for Tinubu’s personal interest in resolving the political disagreements that had threatened governance and stability in Rivers State.
He maintained that the President’s advice, intervention and efforts to reconcile the parties involved in the crisis played an important role in preserving his administration and enabling it to continue delivering on its promises to the people.
According to Fubara, Tinubu demonstrated leadership by choosing dialogue and reconciliation during a period of intense political uncertainty.
“When our state was at a crossroads, you intervened as a father and as a true statesman,” the governor declared.
He explained that the President did not abandon Rivers State at the height of the political crisis but intervened to encourage peace and cooperation among the political actors.
Fubara said the President’s intervention helped the state overcome a difficult period and allowed his administration to refocus its attention on governance and development.
The governor described Tinubu’s visit to Rivers State as a demonstration of his continued commitment to the state and the wider Niger Delta region.
He maintained that the relationship between Rivers State and the Federal Government had been strengthened through the President’s intervention and support.
Fubara thanked Tinubu for what he described as his fatherly concern for the people of Rivers State and his willingness to help the political leadership overcome its differences.
The governor said the restoration of peace had provided an opportunity for his administration to concentrate on the welfare of residents and the execution of development programmes.
His remarks came against the background of the prolonged political disagreement between him and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, which began in 2023 and led to divisions within the state’s political structure.
The crisis affected the Rivers State House of Assembly and generated disputes over political authority, legislative control and the relationship between the governor and his predecessor.
The disagreement subsequently escalated into a constitutional and political crisis, prompting President Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State in March 2025.
The emergency arrangement resulted in the suspension of Fubara, his deputy and members of the State House of Assembly for six months.
The President later lifted the state of emergency in September 2025, allowing the affected elected officials to resume their responsibilities.
Subsequent reconciliation efforts helped bring Fubara and Wike together under a political arrangement intended to end the prolonged disagreements and promote cooperation.
Reflecting on those developments, Fubara credited Tinubu’s intervention with helping to sustain his government and restore a more peaceful political atmosphere in the state.
He maintained that the President’s willingness to encourage dialogue and reconciliation demonstrated leadership beyond partisan considerations.
Fubara also commended Tinubu for appointing indigenes of Rivers State and other parts of the South-South geopolitical zone to positions of authority in the Federal Government.
According to him, the appointments reflected the President’s recognition of the region and its contributions to national development.
The governor expressed appreciation for the opportunities given to sons and daughters of the region to participate in governance at the federal level.
He maintained that Rivers State would reciprocate the President’s support through political mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Fubara subsequently declared that political stakeholders in the state had agreed to work together under the Rainbow Coalition, an arrangement bringing together members of the APC and PDP in support of Tinubu’s re-election.
The coalition is being coordinated in Rivers State by Wike, who has played a central role in the political reconciliation and arrangements ahead of the elections.
According to the governor, the political understanding would enable members of both parties to mobilise support for the President while also backing candidates adopted under the coalition’s arrangements.
He assured Tinubu that the coalition would work to deliver its preferred candidates in the forthcoming elections, irrespective of their individual political party affiliations.
Fubara explained that the arrangement was intended to promote cooperation among political stakeholders and consolidate support for the President across Rivers State.
He maintained that the commitment to Tinubu’s re-election would be demonstrated through extensive grassroots mobilisation and voter participation.
The governor consequently pledged that Rivers State would deliver no fewer than three million votes for Tinubu during the presidential election.
He said the mobilisation would be undertaken under the guidance of the President and the leadership of the Rainbow Coalition, with Wike coordinating the political effort in the state.
Fubara expressed confidence that the political alliance would secure a decisive victory for Tinubu in Rivers State.
He also assured the President that the coalition’s adopted candidates for other elective offices would receive the support of its members.
The governor’s declaration underscored the political cooperation between supporters of the APC and PDP in Rivers State, notwithstanding the differences between the two political parties at the national level.
The Rainbow Coalition arrangement allows participating political actors to support Tinubu’s presidential ambition while working together for candidates drawn from different political parties in other elections.
The coalition has presented itself as a platform for consolidating political support and maintaining cooperation among stakeholders following the reconciliation of the state’s political leadership.
Fubara’s endorsement of the arrangement also reflects the changed relationship between him and Wike after the prolonged political disagreement that divided their supporters.
The governor maintained that the political reconciliation had created an opportunity to move beyond previous disagreements and concentrate on the state’s interests.
He consequently urged political stakeholders and supporters to work together to ensure the success of the coalition’s electoral plans.
The South-South campaign launch brought together political leaders, government officials and party supporters mobilising for Tinubu’s second-term ambition.
For Fubara, the event provided an opportunity not only to endorse the President’s re-election but also to publicly acknowledge Tinubu’s involvement in resolving the crisis that had threatened his administration.
The governor insisted that the President’s support during the difficult period deserved appreciation and political reciprocity.
His pledge of three million votes remains an electoral target, with the actual outcome dependent on voter participation and the results of the January 2027 presidential election.
Post Title: “You Acted As A True Statesman During Rivers Crisis” — Fubara Hails Tinubu’s Intervention, Pledges 3m Votes Under APC-PDP Rainbow Coalition By Naijaonpoint.