Prominent Niger Delta activist Ann-Kio Briggs has insisted that Rivers State residents have a right to full disclosure on the secret pact between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and President Bola Tinubu.
Speaking on Air during a Politics segment on September 22, 2025, Briggs argued that ordinary citizens, who endured the fallout from months of turmoil, deserve clarity on decisions shaping their future.
The call for openness comes amid a turbulent political chapter in Rivers State. Tensions erupted shortly after Fubara’s inauguration in May 2023, pitting him against his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now the Federal Capital Territory Minister.
The rift splintered the state House of Assembly and escalated into chaos, prompting President Tinubu to impose a six-month state of emergency on March 18, 2025. This led to the suspension of Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and assembly members, with retired Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas appointed as sole administrator.
A pivotal reconciliation summit in June 2025, mediated by Tinubu, involved Fubara, Wike, and other stakeholders, aiming to restore harmony. The emergency rule lifted on September 17, 2025, allowing Fubara to reclaim his office at Government House in Port Harcourt, greeted by his wife, security officials, and local leaders. Yet, details of the underlying agreement remain shrouded, fueling public unease.
Also see: Fubara Visits Hometown After Reinstatement as Governor
Briggs decried the opacity, stating, “We are the people who have paid the greatest price in all of these things, and to not be aware of the decision which will affect us… it becomes very difficult to flow with the politicians.” She likened it to “shaving the head of someone behind their back,” urging revelation of Tinubu’s stipulations.
Additionally, she demanded an audit of state funds expended under Ibas’s watch, emphasizing, “The state funds spent during the emergency rule belonged to the people of the state and should be accounted for.”
Wike, in a recent media appearance, acknowledged a peace accord with Fubara but dodged specifics, quipping, “I will allow you to speculate; it’s not my business. All I know is that peace has come.” Fubara, in a September 17 broadcast, thanked Tinubu for brokering unity, vowing to “bury the hatchet.”
Briggs warned that without transparency, rebuilding trust in Rivers State’s governance would prove elusive, potentially reigniting divisions.
