Rivers Political Crisis: Fubara Visits Wike Again in Bid to Mend Fences

Suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has again visited Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, as part of ongoing efforts to resolve the lingering political crisis in the state. Reliable sources confirmed that the meeting took place at Wike’s Abuja residence on Monday, despite circulating images of the pair being dismissed as outdated.

A source close to the development, who requested anonymity, told the press that the photo making the rounds was old, but affirmed that Fubara had indeed met Wike this week in a fresh round of reconciliation talks.

Fubara’s visit marks another attempt to rebuild his fractured relationship with Wike, his predecessor and former political ally. Their fallout, which began shortly after Fubara assumed office in 2023, stemmed from a power struggle over control of Rivers State’s political structure. The rift quickly escalated, leading to a split within the state House of Assembly and growing tensions among political stakeholders.

In March 2025, President Bola Tinubu intervened by suspending Fubara for six months and declaring a state of emergency in Rivers. The move followed threats by Niger Delta militants to target oil infrastructure amid the unrest. Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas was appointed as Sole Administrator to stabilize the situation during the emergency period.

Since his suspension, Fubara has held separate meetings with President Tinubu in London and Lagos, while also making multiple efforts to reconcile with Wike. In one of those meetings, Wike described Fubara as “his son” and encouraged him to extend his peace efforts to other key political figures in Rivers.

Despite Wike’s call, there has been no confirmed report of Fubara meeting with other stakeholders in the state, even as his suspension approaches its third month. His recent meeting with Wike suggests a continued push for reconciliation, but a broader political resolution remains elusive.