President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, held a closed-door meeting on Monday evening at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The meeting comes just days after the lifting of a six-month state of emergency imposed on Rivers State. It is the first official face-to-face engagement between the President and the governor since the political crisis that rocked the oil-rich state earlier this year.
Governor Fubara arrived at the Villa at about 6:20 p.m., dressed in a white caftan and black cap. While the agenda of the meeting was not made public, political observers believe it is connected to the recent developments in Rivers and the future of democratic governance in the state.
President Tinubu had, in a national broadcast on March 18, 2025, declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, citing breakdown of law and order, political violence, and threats to public safety. Following this, democratic structures in the state were suspended, and a sole administrator was appointed to oversee the state’s affairs.
The emergency rule lasted for six months and was lifted on September 18, 2025, after what the presidency described as “the restoration of relative peace and stability.” During the period, Governor Fubara was also placed on suspension, a decision that sparked nationwide debate and protests in parts of the South-South region.
The Aso Villa meeting signals a possible political reconciliation and a fresh start for governance in Rivers State. The presence of Governor Fubara in the Presidential Villa may also indicate the President’s willingness to re-engage the democratic leadership of the state after months of federal intervention.
Shortly before receiving Governor Fubara, President Tinubu had held separate meetings with several top government officials, including the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abass; FIRS Executive Chairman, Zacch Adedeji; and Minister of Finance, Wale Edun.
Though details of the Tinubu-Fubara meeting remain undisclosed as of press time, political watchers are eager to see if the talks will lead to a full restoration of democratic institutions in Rivers and a resolution of the lingering crisis involving factions in the state’s political structure.
The Rivers crisis, which saw clashes between rival political groups and allegations of interference by federal authorities, has drawn national concern. Many Nigerians have called for dialogue and respect for democratic processes.
