Yes, Fubara Came to Me for Reconciliation, Confirms Wike, Amid Rivers Political Crisis

Former governor and Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has broken his silence regarding the ongoing political tensions in his home state, confirming that the suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, visited him in Abuja seeking reconciliation.

The relationship between Wike and Fubara has been strained since late 2023, when a deepening political rift led to Fubara’s suspension by President Bola Tinubu.

The President declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Fubara for six months and appointing a Sole Administrator to oversee the state’s affairs.

The move was aimed at restoring stability amid rising political tensions and escalating protests.

Speaking during a media briefing on Monday, Wike confirmed that Fubara visited him alongside two governors from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in an effort to resolve their differences.

According to Wike, the visit was in line with President Tinubu’s repeated calls for peace in Rivers State.

“Yes, he came with two governors. Unfortunately, they are APC governors. He said he wants peace, and I also want peace. But there are steps to be taken. You can’t just say ‘I want peace’ and expect everything to be resolved,” Wike said.

Wike, however, expressed skepticism about Fubara’s capacity to lead a sincere peace effort, pointing to ongoing demonstrations and media campaigns by Fubara’s supporters.

“I told him, ‘I don’t think you have the capacity to really make this peace. If you’re making peace, your people shouldn’t be demonstrating every day or going on television insulting people,’” Wike added.

Wike stressed that true reconciliation requires more than just verbal commitments, emphasizing that actions must match words if the state is to achieve lasting peace.

He hinted that Fubara’s approach to the reconciliation process lacked the depth needed to address the underlying political issues.

Wike also addressed recent comments by Atedo Peterside, a prominent Nigerian businessman, who reportedly referred to some of Fubara’s appointees as “riff-raffs.”

Wike criticized the remarks as disrespectful, defending the integrity of the appointees.

“Atedo Peterside’s comment is unfortunate. Saying appointees are riff-raffs is too extreme. PhD holders are riff-raffs because they could not establish a bank? If they had established a bank, they wouldn’t have been riff-raffs,” Wike remarked.

As the political crisis in Rivers State continues, Wike’s confirmation of Fubara’s reconciliation attempt marks a significant development.

However, the path to lasting peace remains uncertain, with Wike insisting that genuine reconciliation will require both sides to commit to concrete actions beyond mere gestures.

Observers believe that without a clear, sustained effort to bridge the deep political divide, tensions in Rivers State may continue to simmer, potentially undermining broader efforts to restore stability and development in the region.