Suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, on Wednesday met with members of the 10th Rivers State House of Assembly in what appears to be a step towards ending the ongoing political crisis in the state.
The closed-door meeting followed months of tension between the governor and a faction of the state assembly. Although full details of the discussion have not been made public, sources described it as part of ongoing reconciliation efforts.
The political rift in Rivers State escalated in late 2023 after the assembly, believed to be loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike, clashed with Fubara over control of government affairs. This led to attempts to impeach the governor and counter-measures from the executive arm, including demolition of the assembly complex.
Fubara’s recent outreach to the lawmakers is seen as a positive step toward peace, following calls from President Bola Tinubu and other national leaders for unity and dialogue.
Observers say restoring cooperation between the executive and legislature is crucial for stability in Rivers, one of Nigeria’s most important oil-producing states. More meetings between both sides are expected in the coming days.
