The end is now in sight over the long-standing political crisis in Rivers State as the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, says he and the suspended governor of the state, Siminalayi Fubara, have “agreed to work together”.
Wike, who spoke after a meeting with Fubara, President Bola Tinubu, and suspended members of the Rivers Assembly, said that though he had disagreements with the governor, the parties have now settled their differences, reports Channels TV.
“We have all agreed to work together with the governor, and the governor has also agreed to work with all of us,” Wike said after a late-night reconciliation meeting held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
“We are members of the same political family – yes, just like humans, we all have disagreements, and then you also have the time to settle your disagreements, and that has been finally concluded today. We have come to report to Mr President that this is what we have agreed.”
The FCT Minister, who is the immediate past governor of the state, added, “For me, everything is over and in joy,” saying that “We have all agreed on everything, so we thank Almighty God.”
‘Peace has returned in Rivers State’
Tinubu suspended Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the Rivers State Assembly in March for a period of six months, following failed efforts to resolve the months-long political crisis in the coastal state.
He declared a state of emergency in the state and appointed Ibok-Ete Ibas to oversee the affairs of the oil-producing state.
After yesterday’s late meeting with Fubara, Wike, and the suspended lawmakers, the suspended governor said the move signals a return to peace in Rivers State.
The meeting is the second time Tinubu and Fubara have met since the president suspended him for six months.
Earlier in June, Fubara paid homage to the president in his Lagos residence during Tinubu’s two-week stay in the nation’s commercial nerve centre.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga posted photos of the duo during the meeting.
“Governor Sim Fubara of Rivers, now on suspension from office, visited President Bola Tinubu in Lagos on Tuesday,” Onanuga captioned the photos he posted on his X handle.
The suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, recently met with President Bola Tinubu
Fubara’s suspension, alongside his deputy and members of the House of Assembly, drew condemnation from Nigerians, parties, groups and political heavyweights in the country, including opposition leaders Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar, the Labour Party (LP), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Nigerian Bar Association, the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), among others.
However, Tinubu insisted the move was in the best interest of the state and nation.
For over one year, Wike and his estranged ex-political godson, Fubara, were at loggerheads over the control of the political structure of the state.
Rivers Assembly lawmakers, led by Martin Amaewhule, a camp loyal to Wike, had threatened to impeach Fubara over his alleged inability to implement a Supreme Court ruling on the political situation in the state.
The situation became heated with pipeline explosions reported in the state. That prompted Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Rivers.
Tinubu based his decision on Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, saying he can’t continue to watch the political situation in Rivers escalate without taking any action.
However, a clip showed the parties who have been at loggerheads, trading allegations for months, in a more friendly and jovial mood, marked by handshakes, smiles, and photos after the meeting with Tinubu.
While President Tinubu did not speak after the meeting, there are indications that the end may be in sight for the state of emergency imposed on the coastal state.
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