Fubara and Wike hold Abuja meeting in search of solution to Rivers State political crisis

GOVERNOR Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister Nyesom Wike have held a reconciliatory meeting in Abuja as part of a plan to resolve their differences and restore normal governance to the state.

Last month, in response to incessant spats between Governor Fubara and his predecessor Mr Wike, the federal government decided to dissolve the Rivers State government. President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the state, suspending the governor and the Rivers State House of Assembly and appointed the former chief of naval staff Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas as administrator for six months.

Following the development, Governor Fubara apparently departed for the UK and it is believed he held a brief meeting with President Tinubu, who was also in Europe while there.  According to government sources, the meeting, which was the first personal get-together between the two leaders, was at the instance of Governor Fubara and it reviewed restoring functional government to Rivers State.

In what now appears to be a big step towards achieving this, Governor Fubara met with his predecessor and former political godfather Wike as his residence in Abuja yesterday. Others present at the meeting were said to include Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State and Chief Olusegun Osoba, a former Ogun State governor.

Apparently, Governor Fubara walked straight into Mr Wike’s living room and he begged the minister top let bygones be bygones. Governor Fubara and Mr Wike fell out shortly after the former became governor in 2023.

In an attempt to prevent the crisis from snowballing into a full security challenge, following threats by Niger Delta militants to attack oil installations in the state, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State. Speaking on the emergency rule declared by the president, Mr Wike had said he wanted Governor Fubara outrightly removed from office but the intervention saved the suspended governor.