In a major step towards resolving the prolonged political crisis in Rivers State, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday night convened a high-level peace meeting at the State House in Abuja, bringing together key actors in the conflict for a rare face-to-face dialogue.
According to a post by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, on his verified X handle @aonanuga1956, on Friday morning the closed-door meeting was attended by suspended Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike, suspended Rivers Speaker Martins Amaewhule, and several other lawmakers embroiled in the dispute.
The peace talks, described as a “reconciliation meeting,” has been considered about the most significant and defining intervention of many others by President Tinubu since the crisis erupted and deepened into a near constitutional impasse.
Onanuga described the meeting, which was initiated by the President, as a “closed-doors”, and was organised to end the political hostilities that have gripped Rivers State for months and to “restore normalcy and order.”
Tensions in the oil-rich state escalated significantly earlier this year, culminating in President Tinubu’s decision on March 18 to declare a political emergency in the state, suspending Governor Fubara, his deputy, and all members of the State House of Assembly.
The move, though exceptional and raised dust across the country, was intended to prevent the breakdown of governance as both executive and legislative arms of the state government remained at loggerheads.
While full details of the agreements reached at Thursday’s meeting remain undisclosed, the mere convergence of the rival factions in the presence of the President signalled a possible thaw in relations and a potential return to political stability in the state.
Rivers State, a major contributor to Nigeria’s economy due to its oil production capacity, has faced mounting uncertainty since the feud between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Wike, took a public and deeply divisive turn.
The rift has fractured the state’s political alignment, disrupted governance, and raised fears of broader instability in the Niger Delta region.
Tinubu’s intervention is seen as a high-stakes balancing act to maintain national cohesion while preserving political alliances critical to his administration.
Observers say Thursday’s dialogue could be a turning point, especially if the parties involved abide by any resolutions reached during the meeting.
More details soon.
