Tensions that have rocked Rivers State politics for months reached a dramatic turning point on Thursday night as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu hosted a peace meeting between Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly Martins Amaewhule, and key lawmakers from the state. The closed-door session, held at the Presidential Villa, signals what many observers believe is a decisive intervention aimed at restoring stability to the crisis-hit state.
The high-level talks, which took place late on June 26, 2025, were confirmed by the Presidency and reported by Channels Television. Attendees included both factions at the heart of the prolonged political feud—Wike and his loyalists on one side and Governor Fubara with his supporters on the other. Also present were top security officials and senior aides to the President, underlining the gravity of the crisis and Tinubu’s determination to resolve it personally.
Sources close to the Presidency disclosed that the meeting was convened as part of Tinubu’s wider strategy to de-escalate tensions that had paralyzed governance in Rivers State since late 2024. The political war between Wike and Fubara had led to repeated Assembly clashes, impeachment threats, street protests, and a near-total collapse of executive-legislative relations in the state.
This intervention follows months of political brinkmanship that saw the House of Assembly, led by Speaker Amaewhule, openly defy Governor Fubara’s authority, culminating in Fubara’s controversial suspension alongside other elected officials after President Tinubu declared a political emergency in the state earlier this year. Analysts say Thursday’s meeting could mark the first genuine step toward a lasting settlement.
While the full details of the resolutions reached are yet to be officially released, insiders hinted at key compromises, including the possible reinstatement of Governor Fubara and a ceasefire agreement between both camps. Presidential aides suggest a formal statement is expected before the end of the week to outline the next steps in the peace process.
Political commentators are already describing Tinubu’s move as a bold display of presidential authority and crisis management, with many comparing it to past presidential interventions in volatile states like Edo and Ondo. Across social media, reactions have been swift, with citizens from Rivers State expressing cautious optimism while calling for transparency and genuine reconciliation.
The Presidency has urged residents of Rivers State to remain calm and await further official communication. Both Wike and Fubara left the Villa without addressing the press, fueling speculations about the depth of concessions made behind closed doors. As the nation watches closely, all eyes are now on Aso Rock for the outcome of what may become one of the most politically consequential peace deals of Tinubu’s tenure.
