Port Harcourt, Nigeria — Suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, has disclosed that President Bola Tinubu instructed him to reconcile with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, amid the protracted political crisis in the state.
Addressing supporters in Port Harcourt on Saturday, Fubara stated that President Tinubu personally urged him to make peace with Wike—whom he referred to as his “Oga”—as part of broader efforts to restore political stability in Rivers State. The two have been embroiled in a power struggle since Fubara assumed office in 2023, leading to heightened tensions and ultimately prompting the federal government to declare a six-month state of emergency in the state, during which Fubara was suspended from office.
The reconciliation, brokered during a recent meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, was later confirmed by Wike, who declared that all parties had agreed to work together in the interest of the state’s development. Fubara, however, described the peace accord as a “bitter and heavy” sacrifice but one he accepted for the sake of stability and progress in Rivers.
“After the meeting we had before May 29, we’ve held a series of engagements, including one with the President,” Fubara told his supporters, known as the “Simplified Family.” “President Tinubu clearly said, ‘I want you and your oga to settle.’”
The President’s intervention is viewed as a pivotal development in the effort to de-escalate political tensions in Rivers State and foster a more unified approach to governance. The situation continues to unfold amid ongoing public interest and scrutiny.