From Fallout to Living Room Talks: The Backchannel That Reunited Fubara, Wike

In what has become a widely discussed political twist, recently suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara held private meetings with both the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The previously strained relationship between Fubara and Wike, his predecessor and one-time ally, appears to be thawing leaving political watchers scrambling for answers about the forces behind the rapprochement.

Sources familiar with the development disclosed that the meeting between Fubara and Wike was not spontaneous but rather carefully orchestrated. Contrary to earlier public skepticism and denials by close allies, Fubara reportedly sought out the meeting himself and did not go alone.

In his delegation were prominent members of the All Progressives Congress (APC): Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, and former Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun. The trio is said to have played a central role in facilitating both his meeting with President Tinubu and the visit to Wike’s residence.

Notably, the meeting with Wike took place in familiar territory — the former governor’s private residence.

According to insiders, Fubara walked directly into Wike’s living room, a space he knows well, signaling just how personal and potentially consequential the conversation was.

This high-level intervention by APC figures has stoked speculation that Fubara may be preparing to switch political allegiance from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC a claim yet to be confirmed.

Meanwhile, Wike, though still a PDP member on paper, has continued to operate within the APC-led federal government as FCT Minister, further blurring party lines and fueling intra-party tensions.

Observers say Fubara’s decision to keep some of his closest associates in the dark suggests the urgency and sensitivity of the reconciliation effort.

“There are times in a political crisis when you just tell yourself, ‘I need to do this,’” one source remarked, highlighting the solitary nature of such decisions.

As the political dynamics in Rivers State evolve, and as cross-party alliances deepen, all eyes will be on whether Fubara’s recent engagements signal a personal recalibration or a broader political realignment.