Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Monday in Abuja declared that he is at peace with his political benefactor and confirmed that “proper peace” has returned to the state following months of political unrest.

Speaking with journalists after meeting President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa, Fubara said he had resumed his duties in an atmosphere of stability and cooperation.

“As far as I’m concerned, we have made peace. Fubara and his principal are working together,” he stated, referring to his estranged predecessor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

The governor explained that his visit to Tinubu was a courtesy call and an avenue to seek guidance after the expiration of the six-month emergency rule, which had led to his suspension alongside other top political leaders in the state.

“Ideally, it is proper for me to see Mr. President and inform him that I’m back, and I’ve resumed my responsibility as the governor of Rivers State. It was more of a father-son discussion, thanking him and seeking his advice to avoid future crises,” Fubara added.

Tinubu lifted the emergency rule on September 17, restoring the offices of the governor, deputy governor, and the House of Assembly after a political standoff between Fubara and Wike crippled governance.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had declared that “there was no government in Rivers State,” citing the collapse of relations between both camps in the assembly. The feud had also threatened governance in the oil-rich state, with vital pipelines coming under attack in the days leading to the emergency declaration.

Meanwhile, Governor Fubara lamented the economic setbacks caused by the underutilisation of Rivers’ two seaports, warning that both the state and the country risk continued losses in jobs, investments, and industrial growth if their capacities remain unoptimised.

He made this known while receiving a delegation of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Board and Management, led by its Chairman, Senator Adeyeye Adedayo Clement, at Government House, Port Harcourt.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, Fubara described seaports as critical to national development, stressing that world-class ports and airports are drivers of prosperity worldwide. Despite hosting the Port Harcourt and Onne seaports, he noted, Rivers State had yet to fully tap into their potential.

“We are blessed with the Port Harcourt and Onne seaports, but the truth is they are underutilised. Imagine if Onne Port was working at full capacity, the level of activity around Eleme, Tai, and nearby areas would transform the state’s economy, create jobs, expand manufacturing, and boost clearing and forwarding operations,” he said.

The governor explained that fully maximising both ports would attract industries seeking export hubs, lower logistics costs, and build investor confidence. He added that the ripple effects would include business growth, higher tax revenues, and reduced unemployment.

Highlighting the relative peace in Rivers under his administration, Fubara said the calm had strengthened collaboration between communities, government, and the NPA compared to disruptions in other states.

On infrastructure, he criticised the poor federal roads linking the ports, calling them a major obstacle to operations. While acknowledging road maintenance as a federal duty, he promised state support through traffic management, regulation of trailer drivers, and complementary measures to reduce congestion.

Fubara also pledged improved security within the port environment, including the establishment of a new police station, linking insecurity to joblessness. “Most societal issues stem from unemployment. Once port activities pick up, people will prefer genuine work to crime,” he said.

The governor further cautioned against encroachment on port lands, urging the NPA Board to provide details for immediate government intervention. On flooding, he attributed the problem to poor roads and drainage, assuring collaboration with the NPA to fix affected areas.

Commending the Board’s willingness to work with the state before launching intervention projects, Fubara said such cooperation ensures community acceptance and sustainability. “When government is part of your programmes, you have already succeeded, because government represents the people,” he noted.

He pledged his administration’s full support to the NPA, urging the Board to turn the seaports into drivers of economic growth rather than “monuments of neglect.”

In his remarks, NPA Board Chairman, Senator Adeyeye Adedayo Clement, said Nigeria’s coastal states are richly endowed with marine resources that can drive growth. He assured the Board’s commitment to reviving operations at the Port Harcourt and Onne seaports, while seeking the state’s partnership in rehabilitating access roads, maintaining environmental standards, curbing illegal parking of trucks, and strengthening security.