President Tinubu Poised to Reinstate Rivers Governor Fubara and Lawmakers in July Amidst Reconciliation Pact
ABUJA, Nigeria – President Bola Tinubu is reportedly poised to reinstate the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, and the State House of Assembly as early as this month. This significant development follows a successfully brokered reconciliation between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, aiming to restore political stability to the oil-rich state.
Presidency sources close to the development, speaking to The PUNCH, confirmed that President Tinubu is considering Fubara’s return to office after a pivotal closed-door reconciliation meeting held Thursday night at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The crucial meeting was attended by both Governor Fubara and Minister Wike, alongside the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and several lawmakers.
The political crisis in Rivers State escalated significantly on March 18, 2024, when President Tinubu declared a state of emergency, suspending Governor Fubara, his deputy, and all members of the State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months. In a national broadcast at the time, President Tinubu cited “disturbing security reports” detailing unchecked pipeline vandalism by militants, which he stated the state government had failed to address effectively. Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, former Chief of Naval Staff, was appointed as the state’s sole administrator, a decision that sparked widespread debate regarding its legality.
The roots of the conflict trace back to October 2023, when a fierce power struggle erupted between Fubara and Wike—his political mentor turned rival—over control of Rivers State’s political structures. The dispute quickly led to 27 pro-Wike lawmakers in the House of Assembly initiating impeachment proceedings against Fubara.
President Tinubu had previously intervened in the conflict on October 31, 2023, through a similar peace meeting at the Presidential Villa; however, that agreement subsequently collapsed, prolonging the crisis.
The political standoff was marked by a series of violent incidents, including the bombing of a section of the State House of Assembly complex on the eve of the attempted impeachment of Governor Fubara. A dynamite explosion also occurred near Hotel Presidential along Aba Road in Port Harcourt during a protest in support of Minister Wike. During disputed Local Government Area (LGA) elections in December 2023, two LGA offices and the All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat were set ablaze.
In early 2024, the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt issued an order allowing four pro-Fubara lawmakers to conduct legislative activities without interference from the pro-Wike faction, further deepening the political divide. However, in a significant legal development, the Supreme Court later reinstated Martins Amaewhule as Speaker and restored the pro-Wike lawmakers as legitimate members of the House. The court also nullified the LGA elections conducted by the Fubara-led administration in February 2024. Following this, the Assembly gave Fubara a 48-hour ultimatum to re-present the state budget, though he was reportedly denied entry to the Assembly complex, frustrating his efforts to comply.
Despite the initial six-month emergency order, which was not expected to expire until September, multiple sources within the Presidency have confirmed that President Tinubu is prepared to restore Governor Fubara to office this month. Insiders reveal that this decision solidified after the private reconciliation meeting at the Presidential Villa.
“Fubara is happy with the peace brokered by the President,” a source familiar with the talks stated. “Given the way things have progressed—Fubara and Wike were recently seen riding together and exchanging pleasantries—the deal for Fubara’s return is sealed.”
Responding to inquiries about the expected timing, a Presidency insider affirmed, “At the latest, Fubara should resume as Rivers State Governor this month. Once the President returns from his visits to Saint Lucia and Brazil, he will make the formal announcement.” Another separate source confirmed that during the Thursday night meeting, Tinubu personally informed Fubara to “start preparing to return to office” as part of a final reconciliation arrangement with Wike.
While initial reports dismissed speculation of a condition for Fubara’s resignation shortly after his reinstatement, separate sources, including a report by The Cable, detail a more intricate agreement involving significant limitations on Fubara’s authority. According to these sources familiar with the agreement, the conditions reportedly include:
No Second Term Bid: Governor Fubara will serve out the remainder of his four-year tenure but will not seek re-election in 2027. In return, all impeachment proceedings initiated against him by the pro-Wike faction of the State House of Assembly will be withdrawn.
Local Government Control: Minister Wike will reportedly be allowed to nominate the chairmen of all 23 local government areas in the state, a concession that effectively restores grassroots political control to the former governor.
Financial Settlement: Governor Fubara has agreed to pay all outstanding allowances and entitlements owed to the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers who had previously defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the height of the crisis.
Following their closed-door meeting with President Tinubu, both Wike and Fubara publicly declared the return of peace to Rivers State.
Minister Wike stated, “We have all agreed to work together with the governor, and the governor also agreed to work together with all of us. We are members of the same political family. Yes, just like humans, you have a disagreement, and then you also have time to settle your disagreement—and that has been finally concluded today.”
Governor Fubara echoed the sentiment, asserting, “What we need for the progress of Rivers State is peace, and by the special grace of God, tonight, with the help of the President and the agreement with leaders of the state, peace has returned. We’ll do everything within our power to make sure we sustain it this time around.”
In a clear signal of his commitment to the peace pact, Governor Fubara has reportedly dissolved his core political support groups formed during the crisis, including the “Simplified Movement” and “Simplified Elders.” This move is believed to signify his full reintegration into the Wike-led political structure in the state.
Chief Ogbonna Nwuke, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party and former lawmaker, confirmed the suspension of these groups, stating, “We were one family before, and now that peace has returned, there has to be reintegration. That is what it means. We were all part of the New Rivers Vision.”
The anticipated reinstatement marks a critical turn in the intense political saga, signaling a concerted effort to restore stability and governance in Rivers State.
