Former Rivers State Commissioner for Information, Ibim Semenitari, has welcomed the lifting of the state of emergency in the state, describing it as “a breath of fresh air.”
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, Semenitari said the decision has brought relief to Rivers residents who endured six months without their elected governor.
“As a Rivers State daughter, it feels good to have my state back,” she said. “It is gratifying. I think there’s relief all over Rivers State, the people are happy. The people are glad that things are hopefully getting back to normal.”
She noted that it was unsettling for Rivers to be the only state in the federation without its democratically elected governor for half a year.
President Bola Tinubu announced the end of the emergency rule on Wednesday, restoring Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Nma Odu, and members of the House of Assembly to their offices effective September 18.
