President Tinubu and suspended Rivers Governor Fubara reportedly met in Europe to discuss restoring governance in Rivers State, following a state of emergency declaration, with Wike allegedly excluded
Reports have emerged indicating a meeting between President Bola Tinubu and the suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, during the President’s working visit to Europe.
Also read: Supporters protest suspension of Rivers State Governor Fubara, demand reinstatement
While The Africa Report suggested that the meeting was at Governor Fubara’s request, the Presidency has remained tight-lipped on the matter, and efforts to obtain confirmation have been unsuccessful.
According to an insider source, the meeting holds significant importance as it marks the first personal interaction between President Tinubu and Governor Fubara since the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
President Tinubu’s national broadcast on March 18 cited “months of intense political instability” that had “paralysed governance” and “threatened national stability” as the reason for the declaration.
Subsequently, he appointed former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, as the sole administrator of Rivers State.
Sources suggest that the meeting aimed to ease the persistent tensions and find a resolution to the ongoing crisis in the oil-rich state. Discussions reportedly focused on restoring functional government operations.
Sources close to the presidency indicate that the meeting explored potential avenues for Fubara’s possible return to power.
Notably, Nyesom Wike, Fubara’s estranged political godfather and current Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, was reportedly excluded from the meeting. Sources suggest that Wike is anxious about the potential implications of this development.
The meeting comes at a critical juncture in the Rivers State political crisis, and its outcome could have significant implications for the future of the state.
