President Bola Tinubu on Thursday held a high-level, closed-door meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja with key political actors from Rivers State, aiming to resolve the months-long crisis that has paralyzed governance in the oil-rich state. The session brought together the suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, Speaker Martins Amaewhule, and other members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The meeting comes more than three months after Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers, suspending Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and the entire state assembly, citing escalating insecurity and a breakdown in executive-legislative cooperation. The National Assembly ratified the decision, and retired Vice-Admiral Ibok Ete-Ibas was appointed as sole administrator for an initial six-month period.
Thursday’s gathering is the most inclusive effort yet to restore peace, following earlier one-on-one meetings between Tinubu, Wike, and Fubara. For the first time since the emergency declaration, all major stakeholders were seen together, with photographs showing the president, governor, and minister smiling and walking side by side with lawmakers.
A Breakthrough in Reconciliation
Multiple sources confirmed that the session ended on a positive note, with Fubara and Speaker Amaewhule seen holding hands and sharing laughter—an image that has been widely circulated as a symbol of hope for reconciliation. This marks the first direct engagement between the suspended governor and the lawmakers since the crisis began.
“We have all agreed to work together with the governor, and the governor also agreed to work together with all of us. We are members of the same political family… there’s no more acrimony. There’s nothing to say,” Wike told journalists after the meeting.
The meeting was described by insiders as a “real engagement” and a “breakthrough” in the search for lasting peace. Fubara himself called the development “a moment of divine intervention,” expressing optimism that the state would soon return to normalcy.
Background: Months of Political Turmoil
The Rivers crisis erupted in late 2024 after a bitter fallout between Governor Fubara and the state assembly, dominated by lawmakers loyal to Wike. The rift led to impeachment attempts, parallel legislative sittings, and a breakdown in governance. Tinubu’s declaration of emergency rule was met with widespread criticism from political leaders, legal experts, and civil society, who called for a swift return to democratic order.
Wike, a former governor and influential political figure in Rivers, had repeatedly insisted that any genuine reconciliation must involve Fubara making amends with aggrieved lawmakers, whom he allegedly denied salaries and allowances for over two years.
Path Forward: Hope for Stability
Thursday’s meeting is widely seen as a turning point, with stakeholders hopeful that Tinubu will soon lift the state of emergency and restore democratic governance. The positive atmosphere and public show of unity have been welcomed by Rivers residents and political observers.
While the details of the peace deal remain undisclosed, sources say further meetings will be held to finalize terms and ensure all parties remain committed to the reconciliation process.
Conclusion
President Tinubu’s intervention appears to have yielded a breakthrough in Rivers State’s political crisis, with key actors pledging to work together and end months of acrimony. As the state looks forward to the restoration of normal governance, the hope is that this spirit of unity will translate into lasting peace and stability for the people of Rivers.
