8By Our Correspondent<\/p>\n
At last the two years political crisis in Rivers State, following the disagreement between the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike and Governor of the state, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has finally come to an end, with peace returning to the state.<\/p>\n
The reconciliation of the crisis that gave rise to the peace in the State was resolved on Thursday following a peace meeting brokered by President Bola Tinubu between Barr. Nyesom Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.<\/p>\n
After the closed door meeting with the President, both Wike and Fubara said they have reconciled their differences and have both agreed to work together as one political family, in the interest of the state.<\/p>\n
The two Rivers’ political leaders on Saturday showed signs of commitment to have truly buried their hatchets as they both attended their first public function together in almost two years, with Governor Fubara accompanying his godfather and predecessor, Wike, to the funeral service of his uncle, Elder Temple Omezurike Onuoha, at the weekend.
\nThe FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike had, after after the peace meeting with the president said the Thursday resolution was final, adding that “every thing is over.”
\nWike said, “We have agreed to work together with the governor, and the governor has agreed to work together with all of us.
\n“We are members of the same political family. Just like humans, sometimes you have disagreement and then you also have a time to settle your disagreement, and that has been finally concluded today.
\n“We have come to Mr. President, that this is what we have agreed. So, for me, everything is over and I enjoin everybody who believe to work with us to also work together with everybody.
\nFubara also confirmed that the crisis between him and Wike has been resolved. He described the truce as divine intervention, very crucial moment and a turning point for Rivers State.
\n“It is very important that this day has come to be. What we need for the progress of Rivers State is peace, and by the special grace of God, this night, with help of Mr. President and the agreement of leaders of the state, peace has returned in Rivers State.
\n“We will do everything within our power to make sure that we sustain it this time around.”
\nOur Correspondent gathered that the attendance of both Governor Fubara and FCT Minister Wike, alongside the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule, at the funeral service of Wike’s uncle in Port Harcourt at the weekend highlights their ongoing efforts towards a genuine reconciliation and return of peace to Rivers State.
\nIn the wake of the service, Governor Fubara met with key stakeholders and supporters of the FCT Minister, reaffirming a shared commitment to unity and lasting peace within the state. He assured them, and indeed all citizens of Rivers, that the peace achieved is now firmly established.
\nGovernor Fubara said, “Together, we will build a stronger and more united Rivers State.”
\nAddressing his supporters at the Simplified Movement Office in Port Harcourt, shortly after meeting with Wike’s loyalists, Governor Fubara reassured his supporters that every step he has taken, including the recent reconciliation with the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, was done with their collective interest in mind.
\nHe acknowledged the anxiety and disappointment felt by many of his loyalists following the peace deal, but insisted that difficult times call for difficult decisions. But explained that at every stage, consultations were held with key stakeholders and trusted allies within his political family.
\nThe Governor posited that even amid the political turbulence, no one can genuinely dismiss in a hurry, the pivotal role played, the risks taken and sacrifices made by the FCT Minister, Wike, in his emergence as governor of the State, therefore, declaring that for that reason, no sacrifice or concession is too big for him and anyone who genuinely believes in him to make for the peace, stability, and progress of Rivers State.
\nHe admitted that the new political realities may be painful temporarily for some, especially those who have stood firmly with him through the turbulence, but emphasized that the larger goal remains the peace and stability of Rivers State.
\nAccording to him, “One thing is important: we have to be alive before we can be hopeful. So, the key is that we are alive and there is hope.
\n“On May 29, I did inform you that we are in the peace process; and that it is ongoing. I can confirm that some of the pictures you have been seeing on social and conventional media are the outcome of the peace process. I called for this meeting to address you formally so you can have first-hand information on the peace process.”
\nGovernor Fubara also lamented the impact the political crisis has had on governance, pointing out that several development projects and programmes across the state have suffered delays. He, however, expressed optimism that with the reconciliation achieved, the pace of project implementation would soon pick up.
\nHe reminded the people of the State that now is the time to prove their loyalty and trust in his leadership, even when immediate political rewards seem uncertain.
\nHe said, “If you genuinely believe in this struggle, you will know that we have done what we need to do. At this point, if you want to be truthful to yourself, you will admit that the only solution is peace. I have said it repeatedly that there is no price too big to pay for peace in the State. I meant it. And I am still ready to follow through on it to the end.”
\nReiterating his commitment to peace, Governor Fubara disclosed that President Bola Tinubu had personally intervened, giving a clear directive that both he and Wike must reconcile for the sake of Rivers State.
\nHe said, “In one of the meetings with Mr President, he clearly said: ‘I want you and your Oga to settle’. Nobody can take away the role he played. Nobody here can say he or she does not know the risks he took, and sacrifices he made. And if today, there is need for us to settle, why shouldn’t we settle for the peace and progress of the State? It is the right thing to do. And I am committed to it.
\n“You cannot take away the fact that he may be feeling hurt. He is a human being. So, I know how it feels. And if he says, because of what I have gone through, these are things I want. Of course, I will give it to him so we can have peace. We have to make tough sacrifices and concessions for the peace of the State,” he added.
\nIn a passionate appeal, the Governor urged all who believe in his leadership and vision to embrace peace and allow the state to recover and take a leap to the next level.<\/p>\n
RIVERS PEOPLE REACTS<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Rivers residents and stakeholders have reacted differently to the reconciliation between the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike and Governor Fubara, his successor and incumbent Governor who is currently suspended, alongside his Deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, following declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu on March 18, 2025, citing growing insecurity and tensions in the state, and appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as Sole Administrator of the state for an initial six months.
\nBefore the declaration of State of Emergency in the state in March, 2025, the executive and the legislative arms of government in Rivers State have been engaged in a heated political crisis since 2023.
\nThe crisis escalated on October 30th, 2023 after a failed impeachment attempt against the governor by 27 out of 31 lawmakers loyal to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. This incident occured a day after the assembly chambers was hit with a dynamite explosion by yet to be identified arsonists.
\nGovernor Fubara responded swiftly by demolishing the Assembly Complex citing a crack on the building following the incident, and ordered temporary relocation of legislative functions to government house. But the directive failed, as the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers led by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule instead, decided to be operating from the Assembly quarters.
\nFour members of the Assembly loyal to Governor Fubara, who were suspended before the failed impeachment attempt on the governor, later reconvened, elected the Leader of the House, Edison Ehie as Speaker.
\nThe crisis later metamorphosed to the controversial defection of the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers from the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressive Congress, APC, in December 2023, which led to their non-recognition by the government of Governor Fubara, and sticking to the remaining four members led by Edison Ehie, who eventually in December 2023, passed the much talked about N800 billion 2024 budget.
\nThe Speaker of the pro-Fubara led lawmakers, Edison Ehie, later resigned, and was appointed Chief of Staff to the governor, while lawmaker representing Bonny Constituency, Victor Oko-Jumbo replaced him as speaker.
\nIn December 2024, the 3-member Oko-Jumbo led pro-Fubara Assembly passed the N1.88trillion as 2025 Appropriation Bill, and was signed by the governor, in January 2025, but the budget was later nullified by the February 28, 2025 Supreme Court rulling which ordered Governor Fubara to re-present the budget.
\nThe Apex Court also nullified the October 5th, 2024 local government election conducted by Governor Fubara, and recognized the Martin Amaewhule led 27 pro-Wike lawmakers as authentic members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
\nReacting to the recent reconciliation of the FCT Minister and Governor Fubara, a former Commissioner for Empowerment and Employment Generation in Rivers State, Dr Leloonu Nwibubasa, doubted the genuineness of the reconciliation, and expressed worries over the absence of Governor Fubara’s supporters, especially his Chief of Staff, and three other Assembly members that were seriously involved in the crisis.
\nThe ex-commissioner said the truce between Wike and Fubara in Abuja on Thursday was not reconciliation but a surrender.
\nHe described the development as vicious, alleging that Wike only succeeded in cowing the governor to submission.
\nHe said, “What I see is not reconciliation. What I see is a surrender. In a reconciliation, parties come with their supporters and discussions are made, concessions are made. Where Governor Fubara walked alone to the Presidency without a single of his own supporters, not his deputy, not his Secretary to the State Government, not his Chief of Staff, not his factional Speaker, Victor Oko-Jumbo, and others.
\n“On the other hand, Wike went with his entire House of Assembly loyalists and elders and you say they went for reconciliation. No, I think Governor Sim was called to surrender and he did.
\n“And the composition of that visit to Mr President is a story itself and it tells you to what extent these very divisive and vicious Abuja politicians have gone to cow the governor into a surrender”
\nNwibubasa expressed worries that with the development, Rivers State will return to the trenches. “What it behoves for Rivers people is clear, that the political structures, economic structures and realm of leadership of Rivers State have returned to the old order,” he added.
\nAlso, a political pressure group, the Rivers Emancipation
\nMovement, REM, has accused Governor Fubara of betraying Rivers people who stood by him by not carrying them along in the peace process.
\nThe group in a statement issued by it’s National President, Zoe Tamunotonye, at the weekend said the reconciliation was not in the interest of the people of the state. He stressed that any resolution that massaged the ego of a few selfish individuals and undermined the collective interest of Rivers people will not stand.
\nThe statement reads in part, “This development marks the second Abuja- brokered reconciliation attempt. The first failed to yield any meaningful resolution or address the real causes of the political tension that has paralyzed governance and destabilised peace in Rivers State.
\n“REM unequivocally frowns at this so-called reconciliation in its entirety. It is nothing more than a hollow, self- serving political arrangement that prioritises the narrow interests of a few political actors while completely ignoring the collective pain, sacrifices, and aspirations of the Rivers people.
\nThis is not reconciliation-it is a calculated collusion that will fail again.”
\nOn his part, a Political Analyst and Professor of Politics and Governance at the state owned Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, IAUOE, Rumuolumeni Port Harcourt, Professor, Kenneth Nweke, described the reconciliation between Wike and Fubara as sigh of relief for Rivers State and her residents.
\nNweke, who said all well meaning people of Rivers State should be appreciating God for the development, however warned that the reconciliation should not be at the detriment the people.
\nHe said, “Its a sigh of relief. We applaud what happened on Thursday, but it should be handled with a lot of caution on the part of the two gladiators and their followers to understand that Rivers State means a lot to all of us and not a few people.
\n“What I mean is that, this sigh of relief we are heaving today, should not be at the detriment of the people of Rivers State.
\n“Of course if this is not handled well, that would mean that these gladiators will be on one side and the people of Rivers State will be on the other side, and that can also determine the position in 2027, because we will have over five million voters against a few gladiators. No one man, or few men determines what happens or should happen in a state as treasureable as Rivers State.”
\nThe University Don, however hinted that the development might signal a quicker return of Governor Fubara, his deputy and members of the State House of Assembly from their initial six months suspension, ensure a smooth governance, and also set up a good relationship between the executive and the legislature, as well as the FCT Minister and his other supporters.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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