Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara on Thursday told residents not to fear a return to political violence in 2026, saying his government will rely on prayer, not force, to keep peace.
Speaking after a New Year crossover service at the Government House chapel, Fubara said his administration is entering the year “with renewed strength, faith and optimism.”
He urged people to ignore reports suggesting rising unrest, adding, “We do not have equipment for war.”
The governor also told worshippers: “The only thing we have is our knees. We will continue to pray to God, and God will never let us down.
"So I want to assure everyone here … that in 2026, you should not be troubled by the sounds of war that you are hearing.”
Fubara’s message comes after a tense political period in Rivers that led President Bola Tinubu to place the state under emergency rule in March 2025, which was later lifted in September.
The crisis followed a bitter fight between Fubara and supporters of his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.
Wike, now FCT minister and a fierce critic, recently said the state’s reported ₦600 billion will not guarantee Fubara re-election.
“If they like, let them keep all the money, whether ₦600 billion or not. We have defeated people with money before,” he declared.
