Siminalayi Fubara, the suspended Rivers State Governor, visited President Bola Tinubu in Lagos on Tuesday.
Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu’s spokesman, announced this on his social media platforms.
“Governor Sim Fubara of Rivers, now on suspension from office, visited President Bola Tinubu in Lagos on Tuesday,” Onanuga captioned the photos he posted.
At the time of reporting, the outcome of the discussion between the two leaders remained undisclosed.
However, the meeting’s timing has sparked speculation about potential moves by the presidency to intervene in the political turmoil disrupting governance in Rivers State.
Tinubu’s engagement with Fubara comes months after he sanctioned the suspension of the governor, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and several state lawmakers, in response to a deepening political conflict within the state’s leadership.
The political crisis in the state began owing to a power tussle between Fubara and his successor, Nyesom Wike, who is now the Minister of the FCT.
That crisis immediately escalated to the Rivers House of Assembly, dividing the lawmakers into camps, one loyal to Wike and the other side backing the embattled governor.
In a move that has continued to stir debates across Nigeria and beyond, Tinubu on March 18th suspended Fubara, Odu, and the lawmakers in the House of Assembly for six months over the lingering political crisis. He also appointed Ibok-Ette Ibas, a retired naval chief, as sole administrator of the state.
Tinubu said the decision was to protect the peace and security of the state after failed moves to address the issue, and following reports of pipeline explosions in the state.
“With all these and many more, no good and responsible President will stand by and allow the grave situation to continue without taking remedial steps prescribed by the Constitution to address the situation in the state, which no doubt requires extraordinary measures to restore good governance, peace, order, and security.
However, since Fubara’s suspension, he has repeatedly expressed interest in peace in the oil-rich state and a desire to settle with Wike, whom he described as his boss.
