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| Fubara, Wike & Speaker. |
In a significant development that could mark the beginning of the end for the prolonged political crisis in Rivers State, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has reportedly directed members of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to him to respect and obey Governor Siminalayi Fubara following a fresh peace intervention by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa.
The
directive comes on the heels of a closed-door meeting held on Sunday night,
February 8, 2026, where President Tinubu hosted Governor Fubara, Minister Wike,
and other key stakeholders from Rivers State in yet another attempt to broker
lasting peace between the two political heavyweights. Although official details
of the discussions remain limited, multiple sources close to the Presidency and
political actors in the state indicate that the meeting produced a renewed
commitment to stability, governance continuity, and an end to escalation
tactics — particularly the lingering threat of impeachment against the
governor.
Sources
familiar with the outcome suggest that President Tinubu issued firm
instructions during the session. These reportedly included orders for Wike and
his camp to immediately halt all impeachment-related activities against
Governor Fubara and to allow the state government to function without further
interference from the legislature. In exchange, there are indications that
Fubara was urged to accord due recognition to Wike's influence in the state's
political landscape, including matters relating to party affairs and leadership
structure.
Following
the Aso Rock session, Governor Fubara was said to have accompanied Minister
Wike to te latter's residence in Guzape, Abuja, for what insiders described as
further private discussions and a gesture of reconciliation. This move has been
widely interpreted as a symbolic step toward de-escalation, with some reports
even suggesting that the governor tendered apologies and pledged renewed mutual
respect.
In the
aftermath of these engagements, Wike — who maintains significant influence over
a majority bloc in the Rivers State House of Assembly — has reportedly
communicated to his loyal lawmakers the need to align with the new
understanding reached under presidential supervision. The message is clear: the
assembly should now cooperate with and obey the governor to enable smooth
governance in the oil-rich state.
This
latest presidential intervention is described by some observers as one of the
most decisive yet, especially after previous peace accords (including the
notable December 2023 eight-point deal and subsequent efforts in 2025) failed
to fully resolve the feud. The crisis, which has roots in a power struggle over
control of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) structure in Rivers and later
extended into broader governance and party alignments, escalated dramatically
in early 2026 with fresh impeachment proceedings initiated by the assembly
against Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu.
Addressing
the situation recently, Wike confirmed President Tinubu's role in intervening
in the crisis between the governor and the legislature, describing it as
potentially the final major intervention needed to stabilize the state. He
emphasized that the priority moving forward is for Rivers State to progress
without further discord.
Political
analysts view the development as a potential turning point. With impeachment
threats now reportedly off the table and the assembly expected to shift toward
cooperation, Governor Fubara may soon move to fulfill outstanding obligations —
such as submitting a fresh list of commissioner nominees to the House for
screening and confirmation — as part of implementing the peace terms.
While
cautious optimism prevails among stakeholders, many note that the true test of
this truce will lie in its implementation on the ground in Port Harcourt.
Previous agreements have faltered over issues of trust, recognition of
leadership, and control of political structures. If fully adhered to, however,
this Aso Rock-brokered deal could finally restore normalcy to Rivers State's
governance and allow the administration to focus on delivering dividends of
democracy to the people.
For now,
all eyes remain on the Rivers State House of Assembly and how quickly its
members align with the new directive from their political leader, as the state
seeks to turn the page on months of turbulenc
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