President Bola Tinubu is reported to have had a private meeting with suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, suggesting that the suspension imposed on him in March may soon be lifted. Tinubu had previously placed Fubara, his deputy, and state lawmakers under suspension during a state of emergency.
The meeting, which was held in London last week after Tinubu’s travel from Paris, reportedly occurred at Fubara’s request, according to two anonymous presidential aides. “Yes, it’s true that Governor Fubara met with the president last week. He has indicated a willingness to make some compromises.
Negotiations are in progress, and it seems likely that his suspension will be lifted before the six-month mark,” a senior advisor to the president was quoted by The Africa Report.
Additionally, Fubara is rumored to be contemplating switching allegiance to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as a strategic move to regain favor with the presidency and further protect himself. “If Fubara aligns with the APC, it significantly enhances the president’s chances of winning Rivers State,” another presidential aide commented.
It’s worth noting that this meeting took place without the knowledge of Nyesom Wike, Fubara’s former mentor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. Sources indicate that Wike is unhappy with this behind-the-scenes maneuvering and fears being marginalized.
In response to the ongoing political unrest, President Tinubu is expected to convene a broader reconciliation meeting that includes Fubara, Wike, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. This political turmoil escalated on March 18, when Tinubu declared a six-month state of emergency following violent clashes between factions aligned with Fubara and Wike.
Following this, the president appointed former Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd) as the state’s sole administrator.
