Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has appealed to residents to remain calm amid impeachment proceedings initiated against him and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, saying he is deliberately refusing to trade words with lawmakers because his confidence rests in God and the need to keep the state peaceful.
Fubara made the call on Sunday during a church service marking the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day at St. Cyprian’s Anglican Church in Port Harcourt, his first major public appearance since the latest escalation at the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Addressing worshippers, the governor struck a conciliatory tone, acknowledging rising tensions but urging residents not to panic. “I want everyone to be relaxed… What is important is peace for this dear state,” he said, adding that “everything would be fine.”
In a remark that appeared to reference the political jabs and criticism surrounding him, Fubara repeated a line that has become a talking point in the state’s crisis: “Dogs bark when they don’t understand,” suggesting that his restraint is intentional because he believes he has “what is supreme,” which he described as God.
His deputy, Prof. Odu, also urged residents to maintain good conduct and continue prayers for the administration, echoing the sermon message that actions have consequences and that leaders and citizens alike would ultimately be held accountable.
The governor’s appeal comes as the Rivers Assembly insists the impeachment process remains active. BusinessDay reported that the House has denied claims it was stepping back from the notice served on Fubara and Odu, with the Speaker’s camp maintaining that proceedings are “on course” and that there is “no withdrawal plan.”
Supporters and civic voices have continued to weigh in. ThisDay reported that some Rivers elders and the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) criticised the move, warning it could deepen divisions and complicate peace efforts in the state.
For now, security and political attention in Rivers remains fixed on whether the impasse eases through dialogue—or hardens as the Assembly presses ahead—while the governor’s camp continues to project calm and normalcy in public.
