Suspended Rivers Governor Fubara Meets President Tinubu Amid Political Turmoil
In a politically charged development, suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara paid a surprise visit to President Bola Tinubu at his private residence in Lagos on Tuesday a move that has stirred fresh intrigue amid the deepening political crisis in Rivers.
The meeting, which took place behind closed doors, comes just days after Fubara publicly declared his willingness to sacrifice personal pride for peace, following months of fierce political infighting in the oil-rich state.
Although the presidency has yet to release an official statement on the outcome or purpose of the meeting, political analysts believe the visit signals a potential shift in strategy by Fubara, who appears increasingly isolated in the ongoing standoff with his former ally and predecessor, Nyesom Wike now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
“We must come down from our high horses and subject ourselves to the peace process,” Fubara recently told reporters. “It’s not about you or me. The interest of Rivers State must come first.”
Fubara’s conciliatory tone marks a stark contrast to the bitter power struggle that erupted shortly after he took office, with many seeing it as a direct challenge to Wike’s lingering political influence. The fallout quickly spiraled, leading to a fractured House of Assembly and multiple impeachment attempts against Fubara.
The situation deteriorated further when, on March 18, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State a rare and controversial decision in peacetime. The president also suspended Governor Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all 32 members of the state assembly for six months. In their place, Ibok-Ette Ibas, a retired Chief of Naval Staff, was installed as sole administrator, effectively sidelining all elected officials.
Critics have condemned the suspension as unconstitutional and an alarming precedent for federal overreach in state affairs. Meanwhile, supporters argue the drastic measures were necessary to restore order in a state teetering on the edge of political collapse.
Fubara’s visit to Tinubu raises several questions: Is a political truce in the works? Could this signal his reinstatement? Or is it merely a symbolic gesture to remain relevant amid his suspension?
With the 2027 general elections looming and Rivers State remaining a strategic stronghold, the stakes have never been higher. For now, all eyes remain on the corridors of power both in Lagos and Abuja as Nigeria waits to see whether peace, or further turmoil, lies ahead.
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Suspended Rivers Governor Fubara Meets President Tinubu Amid Political Turmoil