- Safiu Kehinde
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, and the suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara have both declared an end to their rift following a closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu.
Both parties alongside members of the Rivers State House of Assembly were on Thursday evening hosted by Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The meeting, which also had other key political stakeholders in attendance, marked the President’s second attempt in making truce between Wike and his successor.
Prior to the meeting with the President, Fubara met with the Martin Amaewhule-led Rivers Assembly earlier on Thursday which signalled a move toward lasting peace.
The conflicting parties would then assemble at the Presidential Villa with videos and pictures shared on X on Friday showing Fubara and Wike with Tinubu as the end of the meeting.
Addressing newsmen after the meeting, Wike declared that peace has been restored in Rivers state as they have agreed to work together.
“I want to give God the glory that today is the 26th of June 2025, that peace has finally come to the State.
“We have all agreed to work together with the Governor and the Governor has also agreed to work together with all of us.
“We are members of the same political family. Just like humans, you will have disagreements, and then you also have a time to also settle your disagreements, and that has been finally concluded today.
“We came to report to Mr President that this is what we have agreed. For me, everything is over and I enjoin everybody who believe to work with us to also work together with everybody.
“There is no more acrimony. There is nothing to say. We have disagreed, and we have all agreed on everything. So, we thank God. For me, it is a day we have to thank Almighty God”. Wike said.
On his part, Fubara confirmed the agreement with his predecessor and other leaders of Rivers state.
He pledged to sustain the peace and work for the progress of the state.
“For me, it is very important that this day has come to be. What we need for the progress of Rivers State is peace.
“By the special grace of God, this night with the help of Mr President, and the agreement of the leaders of the State, peace has returned to Rivers State. We will do everything within our power to make sure that we sustain it this time around”. He said.
The duo would be captured after the meeting exchanging handshakes before departing from the Presidential Villa.
Recall that Tinubu had on March 18 declared a state of emergency in Rivers, suspending Fubara, his deputy, and all the State House of Assembly members.
The President made the controversial decision following a failed attempt to resolve the clash between Fubara and the Wike-faction of the Rivers Assembly who were alleged to be plotting the governor’s impeachment after their reinstatement by the Supreme Court.
The state of emergency was however declared following the vandalisation of an oil infrastructure amid rising political crisis in the state