Signs of a renewed reconciliation between Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his estranged political mentor, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, are beginning to emerge following a high-level meeting of political stakeholders in Port Harcourt on Saturday night.
The closed-door session, reportedly convened by the Chairman of the Rivers Elders and Leaders Council, Chief Ferdinand Alabraba, brought together Governor Fubara, Minister Wike, members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, and key political figures, many of them known loyalists of the FCT Minister.
Notable attendees included Assembly Speaker Martin Amaewhule, Senate caucus leader Barry Mpigi, former NBA President Onueze Okocha (SAN), former lawmakers such as Magnus Abe and George Sekibo, and several senior party officials. However, loyalists of Governor Fubara were conspicuously absent, marking the second such gathering with little or no representation from his core supporters.
While the meeting’s official agenda was not disclosed, sources suggest it focused on mending the fractured political alliance between Wike’s camp and Governor Fubara’s government, and possibly paving the way for fresh nominations to the State Executive Council.
Governor Fubara had only recently resumed full control of the state on 18 September, following the suspension of emergency rule and the exit of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.) as State Administrator. Since then, the governor has begun to dismantle structures put in place during Ibas’s tenure, including dissolving the Rivers Pensions Board and the state Microfinance Agency.
Despite the apparent momentum towards peace, not everyone is convinced of the sincerity or balance of the reconciliation process.
A close Fubara ally, speaking anonymously to New Daily Prime, criticised the gathering for being overwhelmingly dominated by Wike’s allies.
“It’s like what happened during the emergency rule when we saw pictures of the governor, the FCT Minister, and Martin Amaewhule with President Tinubu in Aso Rock claiming reconciliation,” the source said. “Where are elders like Chief Rufus Ada-George, Dr Gabriel Toby, or High Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, who stood by the governor? If this is reconciliation, it should be sincere and inclusive.”
On the other hand, a loyalist of Wike dismissed those concerns, describing the meeting as a step towards restoring political unity.
“Politics is about loyalty. What you’re seeing is the governor returning to his original family,” the source said. “These are the same people who stood with Wike when he nominated Fubara in 2023. Many of those now complaining were not even part of the process.”
The Saturday meeting comes in the wake of significant political realignments in the state. Governor Fubara recently dismissed all commissioners and public officials whose appointments were nullified by the Supreme Court, following its ruling affirming Martin Amaewhule as the authentic Speaker of the House.
Amid the tension, the Rivers Peace Initiative issued a statement on Sunday welcoming the renewed dialogue and calling for trust, patience, and broader participation in the reconciliation process.
“Peacebuilding is a process that begins in phases, building confidence, establishing mutual respect, and preparing the ground for broader participation,” said the group’s convener, Obinna Ebogidi.
He urged political actors and citizens to refrain from inflammatory rhetoric, stressing that a stable, united Rivers State is in everyone’s interest.
“No one wins in a divided Rivers State. Everyone stands to gain from a peaceful, stable, and prosperous state where governance and development can thrive again,” Ebogidi stated.
As the political dust begins to settle, attention now turns to Governor Fubara, who is reportedly preparing to send a list of new commissioner-nominees to the State Assembly—a move that may either bridge or widen the gap between the two camps, depending on the inclusivity of the process.
