Suspended governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, held a closed-door meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the president’s Lagos residence on Tuesday, as political tensions continue to grip the oil-rich state.
The meeting comes at a critical moment, as efforts are ongoing to resolve the long-standing rift between Fubara and his former ally, now Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike.
The political feud between the two powerhouses has created instability in the state’s governance, with Tinubu previously stepping in to take drastic action.
According to a Facebook post shared Tuesday evening by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the suspended governor personally visited the president.
“Governor Sim Fubara of Rivers, now on suspension from office visited President Bola Tinubu in Lagos on Tuesday,” Onanuga wrote.
President Tinubu had earlier declared a state of emergency in Rivers State in March after failed peace efforts. As part of those measures, he suspended Fubara from office for six months. The State House of Assembly and the executive arm were also affected, as both were placed on hold during the crisis.
While the outcome of the meeting has not been made public, EMPOWERED NEWSWIRE believes it could be part of a renewed push for reconciliation between the warring factions.
Fubara recently hinted at backing down from the face-off with Wike, which many believe has been dragging the state backward.
“We have to come down from our high horses and subject ourselves to the peace process. And that is what we are doing. What is important is for the state to move forward. It is not about you — the state’s interest is paramount,” Fubara had said just days before the meeting.
Fubara’s visit to the president comes less than a week after he publicly stated that he had put aside pride and personal grievances in hopes of bringing peace back to the troubled state.
