Wike, Fubara Trade Blame Over Rivers Crisis Talks

Tensions between Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike and suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara flared again on Monday as both men gave conflicting accounts of the ongoing reconciliation efforts aimed at resolving the prolonged political crisis in Rivers State.

Fubara, speaking during a gathering of his supporters under the Simplified Movement, claimed that peace talks had reached an advanced stage. He assured that harmony between the executive and legislative arms of government would soon be restored, and governance would return to normal. The governor expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his intervention, which he said prevented further deterioration of the situation.

“There is no reason why there will not be peace between me and my oga. There will be peace. We are meeting. We will reconcile,” Fubara said, referring to Wike, whom he acknowledged as a former political mentor. He emphasized the importance of mutual respect and assured the people that his goal was to earn their trust, not impose authority.

However, Wike sharply dismissed Fubara’s comments as insincere. During a media chat, the former Rivers State governor referred to Fubara’s claims as mere “radio and television reconciliation” with no concrete steps to back them up. He accused Fubara of failing to show genuine commitment to healing the rift.

Further criticism came from Dr. Chidi Lloyd, former chairman of Emohua Local Government Area, who questioned Fubara’s sincerity and described his approach as deceptive. Lloyd said Fubara had not taken the necessary steps to engage key stakeholders, including members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and former council chairmen. He added that reconciliation should involve direct meetings and apologies to aggrieved parties.

“He tells people he’s reconciled with his oga, but the oga hasn’t seen him in two months,” Lloyd remarked, accusing Fubara of playing the ostrich. “When a man wants to make peace, it will show.”

Lloyd urged Fubara to begin genuine reconciliation by engaging lawmakers and resolving the issues that led to the crisis, including the seizure of council allocations and the sacking of elected officials. He criticized Fubara’s handling of the conflict and advised him to humble himself and seek forgiveness.

“The governor is like a prisoner of war. He can’t dictate terms to his captors. He must stoop to conquer,” Lloyd said, referencing the deep-seated grievances among lawmakers and former council chairmen who were allegedly sidelined during Fubara’s tenure.

As speculation continues over when the emergency rule in Rivers State might be lifted, Lloyd expressed skepticism, suggesting that Fubara’s confidence may stem from advisers who have misled him before.

“If he comes back without fixing the underlying issues, the problems will persist,” Lloyd warned. “As Ola Rotimi said in *The Gods Are Not to Blame*, until the rotten tooth is pulled out, the mouth must chew with caution.”

The political standoff in Rivers remains unresolved, with reconciliation still a distant goal despite public assurances.