President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has stepped in to resolve the prolonged political crisis in Rivers State, bringing together Governor Siminalayi Fubara, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly Martins Amaewhule, and lawmakers in a peace meeting on Thursday.
This marks the first time Governor Fubara is seen meeting with the President since he was suspended alongside his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and the state assembly on March 18, 2025, when Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the state.
At the time, the President cited the failure of the governor and lawmakers to work together, worsening security, and a total breakdown of governance as reasons for the emergency declaration. He invoked Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution and appointed retired naval chief Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as the sole administrator for the oil-rich state.
The move was met with nationwide criticism from politicians, legal experts, and civil society groups. Prominent figures like Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, Femi Falana, and groups like the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Labour Party (LP), PDP, and PANDEF condemned the action as unconstitutional.
However, Thursday’s closed-door meeting at the Presidential Villa may signal a new chapter. Photos and short videos from the meeting showed smiles, handshakes, and the key political players walking side-by-side — a major shift from the bitter feud that had rocked the state for nearly two years.
The power struggle between Wike and his political godson-turned-rival, Fubara, began shortly after Fubara took office in 2023. Tensions escalated as the Rivers Assembly, controlled by lawmakers loyal to Wike, threatened to impeach Fubara over his handling of court rulings and political appointments.
Though no official statement was released after Thursday’s meeting, sources say the peace efforts are gaining ground and that the six-month emergency rule may soon be lifted.
This development, if sustained, could restore stability and democratic governance to one of Nigeria’s most economically important states.
