Politics in Rivers State has never been for the faint-hearted. If Nigerian politics is a Nollywood movie, Rivers is the blockbuster franchise, full of suspense, betrayals, and cliffhangers. And just when the audience thought the drama had hit its season finale, a new episode is about to air: Governor Siminalayi Fubara is reportedly set to make his grand return on September 18, according to Chief Tony Okocha, Chairman of the Rivers APC caretaker committee.

For months, Fubara has been caught in a political crossfire that turned Port Harcourt into a Game of Thrones arena. His absence from the political stage fueled endless speculations: Has he been sidelined permanently? Is he negotiating his survival? Or has he quietly retired to avoid the fate of past Rivers gladiators who got swallowed by the same system they once tried to control?

But now, the APC chair has dropped the bombshell: “We will work with him when he returns. September 18 is the date, and we are ready,” Okocha declared.

The Comedy And Tragedy Of Rivers Politics

Let’s be real, Rivers State politics is less about policies and more about personalities. It’s about who controls the oil wealth, the street boys, and the political machinery. Wike left, but his shadow is still dancing over every decision made in Port Harcourt. Fubara’s suspension was sold as a disciplinary act, but many believe it was just another episode in the long-running series called “Who Owns Rivers State?”

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The APC’s sudden olive branch raises eyebrows. Since when does the APC in Rivers sound this accommodating? “We will work with him,” Okocha says. Really? Is this genuine reconciliation, or just the latest chess move in a game where pawns are easily sacrificed?

What To Expect When Fubara Returns

When September 18 comes, expect:

1. Massive Celebration or Massive Protest? His supporters are likely preparing drums, while his opponents are polishing their knives. Port Harcourt may feel like a carnival and a protest ground at the same time.
2. New Deals Behind Closed Doors. You can bet backroom negotiations are already happening. Someone somewhere is calculating how to make Fubara’s return work for their own 2027 ambitions.
3. Wike’s Long Shadow. Even if Fubara reappears smiling, Wike’s name will still be the ghost in every political conversation. Will Fubara dare to confront him, or will he keep dancing around the lion’s den?
4. APC’s Surprise Romance. If APC truly partners with Fubara, Rivers politics may finally witness the strangest of alliances—something that will shake both PDP and APC loyalists.
5. Ordinary Rivers People Still Waiting. Amid all this, the average citizen of Rivers just wants stable governance, jobs, and security. But as always, the political gladiators are too busy chasing shadows.

The Real Question

September 18 is not just a date—it’s a political litmus test. Can Siminalayi Fubara return as his own man, or will he return as just another pawn in Rivers’ political chess game? Will he finally step out of Wike’s long shadow, or will he remain the governor who ruled under suspension—both politically and literally?

One thing is certain: when it comes to Rivers politics, nothing ever ends. It only pauses, reloads, and continues.