President Bola Tinubu has reportedly intervened in the Rivers State crisis to halt the escalating feud between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor cum Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
Tinubu’s intervention comes following the fresh impeachment plot by the Rivers State House of Assembly against Fubara and the instability in the state.
Recall that Tinubu had previously intervened in the rift between Fubara and Wike, leading to the declaration of a six-month emergency rule in the state on March 18, 2025, before the Governor’s reinstatement in September.
However, in the recent push to defuse political disagreements between Fubara and the lawmakers, Tinubu ordered an immediate suspension of any impeachment moves against Fubara, but with strict conditions.
According to THISDAY, multiple sources who spoke on the development said Tinubu’s intervention came with a blunt message to Fubara that Wike remains the undisputed political leader of the party, whether All Progressives Congress (APC) or the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, and must be respected in that regard.
Tinubu, while drawing a parallel with Lagos State, was said to have stated, “Is Babajide Sanwo-Olu my leader in Lagos, or was Babatunde Fashola my leader when he was governor?”
The president was also reported to have said that Fubara should respect elders, noting that Wike is an elder statesman in Rivers politics and should be regarded as such.
As part of the fresh peace deal, President Tinubu directed Wike and his camp to immediately halt all impeachment-related actions against Fubara, citing his overriding concern about stability in Rivers State.
Tinubu reportedly warned that continued hostilities would undermine governance in the state and lead to instability, a situation he was not ready to condone.
The peace deal also covered the upcoming state House of Assembly bye-elections in Rivers State, as Tinubu directed that the APC leadership should recognise candidates loyal to Wike for the two vacant assembly seats.
The source added, “It was explicitly stated that Wike has two candidates for the by-elections and that those candidates are to be recognised by the APC party structure.”
