How Wike, Fubara Snubbed Each Other During Meeting with President Tinubu

The political tension between Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike and Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara was on full display during a meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday, as both leaders pointedly avoided each other.

Wike and Fubara were part of a delegation from Ogoniland that met with the President to discuss the possible resumption of oil production in the region. However, despite being in the same room, they refused to exchange pleasantries, reinforcing the deepening crisis within Rivers State politics.

A source present at the meeting disclosed that while both men participated in a group photograph with President Tinubu, there was no interaction between them. “No handshake, no greetings. Everyone went straight into the meeting, and after it ended, they simply left,” the source said.

Wike, who arrived at the Villa earlier in the day before proceeding to inspect and commission projects, reportedly departed immediately after the group photograph. According to the source, his presence at the meeting was expected given his role as a minister from Rivers State, but the focus of the discussion remained strictly on oil production, with no mention of the ongoing political feud.

When asked whether President Tinubu attempted to mediate between the two, the source dismissed the possibility. “The President only engaged Magnus Abe, commenting that he had not seen him for some time. Abe replied that he had been working closely with the FCT Minister, a claim that Wike confirmed,” the source added.

The tension between Wike and Fubara has been escalating for months, with no sign of reconciliation. Just a day before the meeting, Wike reaffirmed in a live television interview that he had no intention of making peace with the governor as long as their political dispute persisted.

Meanwhile, the Pan Niger Delta Elders Forum (PANDEF) has launched a peace initiative aimed at resolving the crisis. Former Akwa Ibom State Governor Obong Victor Attah has been appointed to lead a mediation committee tasked with bringing both parties to the negotiating table.

A source within PANDEF urged both Wike and Fubara to seize this opportunity to restore peace, warning that the prolonged political standoff was detrimental to Rivers State. “This is a golden opportunity for both of them to put their differences aside for the sake of the state. The crisis is not helping anyone, and they must act in the interest of Rivers people,” the source emphasized.