RIVERS PEACE MOVE: WIKE LEADS LAWMAKERS, COUNCIL CHAIRMEN TO GOV. FUBARA’S RESIDENCE

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has led members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and the 23 local government council chairmen to another meeting with Governor Siminalayi Fubara, as efforts to sustain reconciliation between the two political camps continue.

The latest visit comes less than two weeks after political leaders loyal to both men gathered at the same venue.

THE MEETING

The meeting was held at Fubara’s private residence in Port Harcourt.

The Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in the state, Kingsley Chinda, were among those who accompanied Wike to the meeting.

The latest engagement is part of efforts to consolidate the reconciliation process following the prolonged political dispute between Wike and Fubara, which divided the state’s political leadership and strained relations between the governor and lawmakers.

THE RECONCILIATION

Wike had recently announced an end to the feud, saying Fubara had agreed to return to the political family that supported his emergence as governor.

A reconciliation committee led by Magnus Abe, chairman of the Rainbow Coalition reconciliation committee, was constituted to engage Fubara and his supporters.

Fubara subsequently declared his support for the Rainbow Coalition and endorsed Chinda as his preferred successor in the 2027 governorship election.

The governor had initially been screened alongside Chinda for the APC governorship primary but later withdrew from the race, saying his decision was intended to promote peace and unity in Rivers State.

Chinda subsequently emerged as the APC’s sole governorship candidate.

THE BACKSTORY

The political crisis between Wike and Fubara began shortly after the governor assumed office in 2023, triggering a prolonged dispute that divided the state House of Assembly.

Tensions escalated in October 2023 when a fire damaged part of the Assembly complex amid the dispute.

Lawmakers loyal to Wike later initiated impeachment proceedings against Fubara, deepening the confrontation.

The crisis culminated in March 2025 when President Bola Tinubu declared a six-month state of emergency in Rivers State, leading to the suspension of the governor, his deputy and members of the state Assembly.

The elected officials subsequently returned to office after the emergency rule ended.

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WHY IT MATTERS

The reconciliation between Wike and Fubara is significant for Rivers State and for the 2027 election.

For Rivers, it signals an end to a political crisis that has paralyzed governance and divided communities.

For the APC, it means a united front in a state where the party has struggled to consolidate power.

For Fubara, it means securing his political future by aligning with the Wike-backed Rainbow Coalition.

For Wike, it means retaining influence in the state he once governed.

But reconciliation is not the same as resolution.

The underlying tensions that sparked the crisis, control of party structures, access to resources, and personal ambition, have not disappeared. They have simply been deferred.

ValidViewNetwork reports that the reconciliation process continues. The 2027 election will test whether it holds.