DEVELOPING STORY: FUBARA QUITS RACE

DEVELOPING STORY: FUBARA QUITS RACE

● Tears, Shock Across Rivers As Governor Steps Aside, Backs APC Unity;
●  Says “Some truths are best borne quietly, not out of fear, but out of wisdom.”

By PHC Telegraph

There was shock, anger and deep disappointment across Rivers State Wednesday night after Governor Siminalayi Fubara formally withdrew from the governorship race, citing the need for peace, unity and stability in the State.

The dramatic decision came shortly after reports emerged that Pastor Tonye Cole, a gubernatorial aspirant, had also stepped aside from the contest, effectively leaving the field open for what many political observers now describe as “another Ikwerre succession.”

Across Port Harcourt and several parts of the State, supporters of the governor reacted with grief and disbelief as news of the withdrawal spread.

In many homes and political camps, there were tears, frustration and feelings of betrayal as loyalists struggled to come to terms with what some described as the “total surrender” of the political structure of the State to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Fubara, in a carefully worded statement released Wednesday, said his decision followed “deep reflection and extensive consultations.”

The governor declared that leadership ultimately demands sacrifice and insisted that the interest of Rivers State must come ahead of personal ambition.

“Rivers State is bigger than any individual, and at this critical moment, the peace, stability, and unity of our dear state must take precedence over every personal interest,” he said.

⁹In what many observers interpreted as a veiled reference to the intense political pressure surrounding the APC governorship battle, the governor hinted that difficult events had unfolded behind closed doors.

“As our elders say, not everything a hunter sees in the forest is spoken of in the marketplace,” Fubara stated.

“Some truths are best borne quietly, not out of fear, but out of wisdom and restraint for the sake of peace and a greater purpose.”

The governor admitted that many of his supporters would feel wounded by the decision.

“I understand the disappointment, the anger, and the pain many of you may feel,” he noted.

Fubara however insisted that his withdrawal should not be seen as weakness or surrender.

“I stepped aside not out of weakness, fear, or surrender, but out of conviction and sacrifice so that Rivers State may move forward in peace and unity.”

The governor thanked Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress leadership for their support while urging party faithful to remain united.

Political analysts say the withdrawal marks one of the most consequential turning points in recent Rivers political history and may significantly reshape the balance of power ahead of the 2027 elections.

With both Fubara and Cole out of the race, attention is now expected to shift to the emerging forces within the APC and the widening debate over zoning, political dominance and the future direction of power in Rivers State.