Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has announced reconciliation with his predecessor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, following a closed-door meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Monday.
Fubara, arrived at the Villa around 6:22 p.m. on his first official visit since his reinstatement as governor after six months of emergency rule in Rivers State.
President Tinubu had on March 18, 2025, declared a state of emergency in the state, suspended Governor Fubara, his deputy, and members of the State House of Assembly, and appointed a sole administrator to run its affairs. The suspension was lifted on September 18, restoring democratic governance.
Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Fubara said his visit was to express gratitude to the President and reaffirm his return to office.
“You’re aware the suspension was lifted on the 17th, and I came in on the 19th. It was proper for me to see Mr. President to inform him that I’m back and have resumed my responsibilities as Governor of Rivers State,” he said.
Describing the engagement as a “father-son discussion,” Fubara added that the President offered guidance on how best to move the state forward.
On his relationship with Wike, the governor stressed that peace had been restored. “I don’t know what you mean by ‘paper peace.’ As far as I’m concerned, we have made peace. Fubara and his principal are working together,” he declared.
In a statewide broadcast on September 19, shortly after returning to office, Fubara expressed appreciation to Tinubu for his “fatherly intervention” that helped restore order. He described the emergency rule as one of Rivers State’s most challenging periods but said it offered hard lessons for leadership.
The governor pledged to collaborate with the State House of Assembly to recover lost ground and accelerate development. He urged political leaders in the state to set aside personal interests and work for the collective good.