The Chief Press Secretary to suspended Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has dismissed rumours about the governor’s whereabouts, urging Nigerians to disregard social media speculation.
Speaking to reporters on Friday night, Nelson Chukwudi assured that Fubara remains “safe and doing well” despite being removed from the Government House along with his family and security details.
“Forget about what you are reading on social media. The governor is safe and doing well,” Chukwudi stated.
The controversy follows President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State on Tuesday, leading to the suspension of Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all State House of Assembly members. Tinubu appointed retired Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, as the state’s sole administrator.
The National Assembly approved the emergency rule on Thursday in a closed-door session.
Fubara’s suspension resulted from a prolonged political dispute with lawmakers loyal to his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, which escalated into a full-blown crisis, prompting presidential intervention.
Concerns over Fubara’s whereabouts grew after the South-South Elders Forum raised alarm on Thursday. The forum’s coordinator, Niger Delta activist Anabs Sara-Igbe, claimed they had neither seen nor heard from Fubara since his removal on March 18, 2025, adding that attempts to contact him had been unsuccessful, fueling speculation and social media demands for answers.
