President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday night hosted a crucial reconciliation meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, aimed at ending the prolonged political crisis in Rivers State.
The closed-door session brought together suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Federal Capital Territory Minister and former Rivers governor Nyesom Wike, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly Martins Amaewhule, and other key political actors.
The meeting marked President Tinubu’s most significant effort to mediate the escalating political conflict that has gripped the oil-rich state since late 2023.
Addressing the media after the talks, participants said they had reached a final agreement and were committed to putting past grievances behind them. One of the attendees stated, “That has been finally concluded today, and we have come to report to Mr. President what we have agreed. For me, everything is over. I encourage everyone who believes in working with us to join hands—there is no more acrimony, nothing left to say.”
Governor Fubara also expressed relief and gratitude, calling it a turning point. “For me, it is a day to thank Almighty God. It is very important that this day has come,” he said. Stressing the importance of stability for development, Fubara added, “What we need for the progress of Rivers State is peace, and by the special grace of God, this night, with the help of Mr. President and the agreement of the state’s leaders, peace has returned to Rivers State.”
The political standoff began as a power struggle between Fubara and Wike, once close allies. The feud escalated with a bombing of the State Assembly on October 29, 2023, ahead of an aborted impeachment attempt on Fubara. The crisis deepened with legal battles, defections, and rising insecurity, prompting President Tinubu to declare a six-month state of emergency on March 18, 2025.
The federal government cited political violence, a breakdown of governance, and renewed militant activity as justification. With the Thursday meeting, Tinubu seeks to restore constitutional order and governance in Rivers, bringing an end to months of uncertainty and instability.
