President Bola Tinubu on Sunday night brokered a fresh peace move between Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, as both men left the Presidential Villa together after a closed-door meeting.
Sources confirmed that although the two political rivals arrived at the Villa separately, they departed in the same vehicle after meeting with the President. The development has been widely seen as a strong signal that the long-running political crisis in Rivers State may finally be nearing an end.
According to one source familiar with the meeting, Governor Fubara arrived first, while Wike came later. However, at the end of the discussions, both men left together.
“They did not come together,” the source said. “Fubara came first, then Wike. But when the meeting ended, both of them left in the same vehicle. That alone shows that something has changed.”
Another source confirmed the meeting, saying President Tinubu personally spoke to both men in a bid to resolve their differences.
“Yes, the meeting took place on Sunday night,” the source said. “The President met both of them. He talked to them, and they settled. I cannot say exactly what was discussed, but the meeting was successful.”
The meeting marks what many observers see as a possible turning point in the political crisis that has troubled Rivers State for nearly two years. The crisis has slowed governance in the oil-rich state and raised concerns about political stability, security, and development.
The conflict between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, began shortly after Fubara assumed office in May 2023. Wike, a former governor of Rivers State and a powerful political figure, was widely regarded as Fubara’s political mentor and played a key role in his emergence as governor.
However, the relationship between the two men quickly broke down over control of political structures, appointments, and the direction of governance in the state.
Tensions reached a boiling point in October 2023 when lawmakers loyal to Wike in the Rivers State House of Assembly began impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara. The move deepened the political divide and threw the state into serious uncertainty.
In response, Governor Fubara took the controversial step of demolishing the Rivers State House of Assembly complex after a fire incident damaged part of the building. He later relocated legislative activities to temporary locations, a decision that further worsened relations between the executive and the lawmakers.
For months, Rivers State was locked in a power struggle that affected governance. The House of Assembly split into factions, while court cases, political protests, and threats of impeachment became common.
Public institutions suffered, projects slowed down, and many residents expressed concern that politics had taken priority over governance. Civil society groups and community leaders repeatedly called on both sides to put the interest of the state first.
In December 2023, President Tinubu intervened for the first time. He invited both Fubara and Wike to Abuja and brokered a peace deal. Under that agreement, Governor Fubara agreed to allow some political appointments to go to Wike’s loyalists in an effort to restore balance.
Although the agreement initially reduced tensions, it did not last. Disagreements soon resurfaced, and both camps accused each other of acting in bad faith. The fragile peace collapsed, and the crisis returned, even more intense than before.
As the situation worsened, President Tinubu took a dramatic step on March 18, 2025, by declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State. The President cited rising insecurity, political paralysis, and the inability of key institutions to function properly.
Following the declaration, Governor Fubara’s executive powers were suspended for an initial period of six months. The Rivers State House of Assembly was also effectively sidelined.
To stabilize the state, President Tinubu appointed a Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd.), a former Chief of Naval Staff. His task was to restore order, ensure basic governance, and prepare the ground for a return to democratic rule.
The decision sparked mixed reactions across the country. While some Nigerians supported the move as necessary to save Rivers State from chaos, others raised concerns about democracy and constitutional order.
After months of relative calm under the sole administrator, President Tinubu ended the emergency rule in September 2025. Governor Fubara returned to office, and democratic institutions were restored.
However, peace remained fragile. The Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly, which is largely loyal to Wike, soon clashed again with the governor. The lawmakers issued another impeachment notice, renewing fears that Rivers State could slide back into crisis.
It was against this background that President Tinubu once again stepped in, leading to Sunday night’s meeting at the Presidential Villa.
Political observers say the decision by Fubara and Wike to leave the Villa together may be more than just a friendly gesture. In Nigerian politics, such symbolism often carries deep meaning.
The source believe President Tinubu may have impressed upon both men the need to end the conflict permanently, especially given Rivers State’s importance to the national economy as a major oil-producing state.
Many residents of Rivers State have welcomed the latest development with cautious optimism. While some remain sceptical due to past failed peace efforts, others hope this meeting could finally mark the end of the prolonged political battle.
For now, neither Governor Fubara nor Minister Wike has made an official statement on the outcome of the meeting. The Presidency has also not released details of the discussions.
However, the image of both men leaving the seat of power together has sent a strong message: after months of political tension, dialogue may once again be taking centre stage in Rivers State.
Whether this latest peace effort will hold remains to be seen, but for a state weary of crisis, Sunday night’s meeting has offered a rare moment of hope.
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