Rivers political crisis nears resolution as Tinubu brokers high-level peace meeting

The lingering political crisis in Rivers State appears to be moving toward a peaceful resolution following a closed-door reconciliation meeting convened by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday night at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

In a rare and symbolic gathering, President Tinubu met with key figures at the heart of the crisis, including Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, and the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara.

Also in attendance were Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, and several state lawmakers involved in the prolonged political standoff that has gripped the state for months.

Sources familiar with the meeting described the tone as constructive and conciliatory, with all parties expressing a willingness to work toward peace in the interest of the people of Rivers State.

Although official details of the meeting remain undisclosed as of press time, Tinubu’s spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, on Friday said the meeting underscored the President’s commitment to peace in Rivers.

“President Tinubu has demonstrated once again that he wants peace for Rivers State. Just like he brought together the political gladiators to sign a peace deal in December 2023, he repeated the same on Thursday night, three months after he imposed the March 18 state of emergency. FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and House Speaker Martins Chike Amaewhule all took part in the peace talks at the Villa,” Onanuga said in a post on his X handle .

It was gathered that the Tinubu may soon announced the suspension of the emergency rule imposed on the state should all the parties live up to expectations on the terms reached in the meeting.

Earlier on Thursday, Governor Fubara had met separately with Speaker Amaewhule in Abuja, in what appears to be a precursor to the presidential peace initiative.

This latest development comes months after President Tinubu  declared a state of emergency in Rivers State in response to escalating tensions between pro-Wike’s Rivers Assembly and those loyal to Fubara .

The crisis had led to the suspension of Governor Fubara and the House of Assembly as well as the paralysis of democratic institutions within the state.

While the Presidency has yet to issue an official statement on the outcome of Thursday’s meeting, the unprecedented gathering of all key stakeholders suggests a coordinated effort to restore stability and unity in the state.