Senate President Godswill Akpabio paid a visit to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, at his Abuja residence on Tuesday evening, just hours after President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State.
The visit was confirmed by Wike’s spokesman, Lere Olayinka, who shared the news on X (formerly Twitter). Olayinka posted, “The Uncommon Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, during his visit to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, in his residence today.”
At the time of reporting, no official statement had been released regarding the specific agenda of the meeting.
However, Akpabio’s visit came at a pivotal moment, following President Tinubu’s declaration that suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months.
The decision, announced in a national broadcast on Tuesday, was justified by Tinubu due to rising political tensions and a breakdown in governance in Rivers State.
The President warned that if the crisis was left unresolved, it could threaten national stability and economic interests.
The political turmoil in Rivers State has largely been driven by a power struggle between Wike, the former governor of the state, and Fubara, his former ally.
Wike, now serving as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, played a significant role in Fubara’s rise to the governorship. However, their relationship soured over control of the state’s political machinery, leading to months of intense political infighting and defections.
Wike, despite no longer being governor, continues to wield considerable influence in Rivers State, with many of his loyalists holding key positions in the state assembly. His factional rift with Fubara has resulted in two parallel camps within the state’s leadership, making it increasingly difficult to maintain political cohesion.
Though the purpose of Akpabio’s visit to Wike remains unclear, the timing of the meeting has sparked speculation that it may be linked to the ongoing crisis in Rivers. As the political landscape continues to evolve, it’s likely that the meeting could have been an attempt to gauge Wike’s position or seek his input on the situation in his home state.
As the federal government works to restore order in Rivers, all eyes will be on how key political figures like Wike and Akpabio navigate the fallout from the state of emergency and the broader implications for the region.
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