Fresh reports suggest President Bola Tinubu recently met privately with suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, amid signs that the federal government may soon lift the suspension imposed on him earlier in March.
It will be recalled that President Tinubu placed Fubara, his deputy, and several state lawmakers under suspension while declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State at the time.
The discreet meeting reportedly took place in London last week, following Tinubu’s trip to Paris, according to insider accounts.
Two presidential aides, who requested anonymity, disclosed that the meeting was arranged after Fubara personally sought an audience with the president.
“It is true. Governor Fubara held a private meeting with the president last week. Fubara has promised to make some compromises. Negotiations are ongoing, but from all indications, his suspension will be lifted before the six-month deadline,” The Africa Report quoted a senior adviser to the president as saying.
Sources close to the discussions also hinted that Governor Fubara is weighing the option of decamping to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) — a move considered strategic for restoring his political standing and securing federal protection.
“If Fubara joins the APC, it means the president’s chances of winning Rivers State are much higher,” another presidential aide reportedly noted.
The closed-door talks are believed to have proceeded without the awareness or involvement of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike — Fubara’s estranged political mentor. According to those familiar with the matter, Wike is unsettled by these backchannel negotiations and fears losing grip on the state’s power structure.
President Tinubu is reportedly preparing to convene a larger peace meeting that will bring Fubara, Wike, and the members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to the table in an effort to address the prolonged political conflict.
The Rivers State crisis reached a boiling point on March 18 when Tinubu announced a six-month state of emergency following violent clashes between supporters loyal to both leaders. In the wake of the unrest, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), a former Chief of Naval Staff, was appointed to oversee the state as sole administrator.
