Siminalayi Fubara has withdrawn from the governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress, due to hold on Thursday, saying the interests of Rivers State must outweigh personal ambition amid deepening political tensions in the oil-rich state.
In a statement issued late on Wednesday and personally signed by the governor, Fubara announced what he described as a “difficult but necessary decision” to step aside from the contest, while pledging support for whichever candidate eventually emerges as the party’s flagbearer.
“Leadership is ultimately about sacrifice,” he said. “There comes a time when personal ambition must yield to the greater good of the people. 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.”
The governor’s withdrawal is likely to fuel fresh speculation over the balance of power within Rivers politics and the growing strains that have defined the state’s political landscape in recent months.
Fubara acknowledged the disappointment among his supporters, many of whom had invested political capital and resources in his bid, but insisted his silence in recent weeks had been “deliberate and strategic”, guided by what he described as the higher interests of the state.
Invoking a proverb, he suggested that not all political realities could be publicly disclosed.
“As our elders say, not everything a hunter sees in the forest is spoken of in the marketplace,” he said. “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.”
Without elaborating, the governor disclosed that he had faced “immense pressures and difficult choices”, though he maintained that his commitment to Rivers State remained unwavering.
Fubara also thanked Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as support and encouragement throughout the process, while reaffirming his loyalty to the APC.
“The APC remains our collective home,” he said, urging party supporters to remain united ahead of the governorship election.
Seeking to dispel any perception of political capitulation, the governor insisted his withdrawal should not be interpreted as an act of weakness or surrender.
“Let it be clearly understood that 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,” he said.
Fubara added that he remained committed to serving the people of Rivers State until the end of his tenure.
