Bode George, a senior figure in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reinstate the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, as a goodwill gesture in honor of Nigeria’s Democracy Day.
In a public letter addressed to the president, George encouraged reconciliation and clemency, citing Tinubu’s recent act of forgiveness towards Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. He suggested that extending the same grace to Fubara would promote national healing and reflect the spirit of June 12, which celebrates the will of the people and Nigeria’s democratic journey.
George, who once served as PDP’s deputy national chairman for the South-West, reminded the president of his involvement in the country’s struggle for democracy, especially during the military regime and his association with the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO). He said that many of those who stood with Tinubu in that fight are no longer alive, and urged the president to honor their memory by restoring democratic governance in Rivers State.
Referring to Tinubu’s statement that he had forgiven Sanwo-Olu during a recent meeting with the Governors Advisory Council and other stakeholders in Lagos, George argued that the same should be done for Fubara. He described this act as not just politically significant, but also spiritually meaningful during this time of national reflection.
He also invoked the legacy of Herbert Macaulay, Nigeria’s first major political figure and George’s maternal grand-uncle. According to him, reinstating Fubara would show respect for those who sacrificed for Nigeria’s democracy and keep the true meaning of June 12 alive.
Governor Fubara was suspended from office on March 18, 2025, after President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State due to rising political tensions. The suspension also affected Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. A retired naval chief, Ibok-Ete Ibas, was appointed as the sole administrator of the state for an initial six-month period.
June 12 is observed every year in Nigeria to mark the return to civilian rule and to honor the legacy of the late MKO Abiola, who is widely believed to have won the annulled 1993 presidential election.
