Tension in Rivers State As Governor Fubara, Speaker Amaewhule Hold Parallel Independence Day Events

Port Harcourt, Nigeria – Tensions resurfaced in Rivers State politics on Sunday as Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, appeared to be on different tracks, raising fresh doubts over the much-publicised peace deal brokered in the state.

Governor Fubara, alongside his deputy, the state’s Chief Judge, and top security chiefs, attended an interdenominational church service organised by the Rivers State Government to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary. But the absence of Speaker Amaewhule, members of the House of Assembly, and the 23 local government chairmen loyal to former governor Nyesom Wike was widely interpreted as a deliberate boycott.

A close ally of Fubara, reacting to the snub on social media, criticised the Speaker and council chairmen, warning that their actions undermine the peace accord. According to him, genuine peace must be demonstrated through participation in state functions, not through rhetoric. He further urged President Bola Tinubu to closely monitor the unfolding situation in Rivers, stressing that Governor Fubara should not be misrepresented as the problem.

The absence of key political figures from the government-led event deepened speculation that the state remains sharply divided along pro-Fubara and pro-Wike lines. Observers noted that while Fubara continues to push forward with official state programmes, the Speaker and his allies are increasingly seen organising parallel activities, a sign that political reconciliation in Rivers may be more fragile than publicly admitted.

The development comes just weeks after President Tinubu intervened to calm tensions in the state, following a bitter standoff between Fubara and his predecessor. With Sunday’s independence anniversary service marred by boycotts, fears are growing that Rivers may be heading into another phase of political uncertainty.