Rivers crisis: Tinubu, Wike, Fubara meet in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu has held a closed-door meeting with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and some political leaders from the state over the renewed political crisis in the state.

The meeting was held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Sunday night, amid rising tensions in Rivers State.

Sources familiar with the meeting told The Nation that the president convened the talks as part of efforts to de-escalate the growing rift between Wike and Fubara.

One of the sources further disclosed that the governor later accompanied Wike to his residence in the Guzape area of Abuja after the meeting.

According to the source, Fubara appealed to Wike and pledged to restore peace between them, assuring his predecessor he would avoid actions that could be interpreted as disrespectful.

Tinubu’s intervention comes against the backdrop of a fresh impeachment move initiated against Fubara by members of the Rivers State House of Assembly believed to be loyal to Wike.

Wike: Rivers doesn’t need Fubara to deliver Tinubu’s re-election in 2027

The lawmakers accused the governor of gross misconduct, including the demolition of the Assembly complex, alleged extra-budgetary spending, withholding of funds meant for the Assembly Service Commission and failure to comply with a Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to the state legislature.

The Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Odu, was also accused of reckless expenditure, obstructing the activities of the House, and permitting unauthorised persons to occupy offices within the Assembly complex.

The allegations followed earlier accusations made against the governor and his deputy before the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State in March 2025, which resulted in the suspension of both officials for six months.

Although President Tinubu had previously brokered a peace agreement between Wike and Fubara, political tensions resurfaced several months after the emergency rule was lifted.

The Star