Peace at last?: President Tinubu hosts Fubara in Lagos

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday held a private meeting with Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara at his Bourdillon residence in Ikoyi, Lagos.

The unannounced encounter comes amid effort to solve political turbulence in Rivers State, and it is already sparking intense speculation across party lines and power blocs.

As of press time, neither the presidency nor Fubara’s camp had issued an official statement on the nature or outcome of the talks.

But what is clear is this: something significant is in motion.

Fubara, who has faced relentless political opposition since assuming office in 2023, has been walking a tightrope in one of Nigeria’s most politically volatile states.

The political battle between him and his predecessor Nyesom Wike resulted in the declaration of state of emergency in Rivers on May 18, 2025.

Declaring the state of emergency, President Tinubu said: “With the crisis persisting, there is no way democratic governance, which we have all fought and worked for over the years, can thrive in a way that will redound to the benefit of the good people of the state. The state has been at a standstill since the crisis started, with the good people of the state not being able to have access to the dividends of democracy.

“Also, it is public knowledge that the Governor of Rivers State for unjustifiable reasons, demolished the House of Assembly of the state as far back as 13th December 2023 and has, up until now, fourteen (14) months after, not rebuilt same. I have made personal interventions between the contending parties for a peaceful resolution of the crisis, but my efforts have been largely ignored by the parties to the crisis. I am also aware that many well-meaning Nigerians, Leaders of thought and Patriotic groups have also intervened at various times with the best of intentions to resolve the matter, but all their efforts were also to no avail. Still, I thank them.

“On February 28, 2025, the supreme court, in a judgment in respect of about eight consolidated appeals concerning the political crisis in Rivers State, based on several grave unconstitutional acts and disregard of rule of law that have been committed by the Governor of Rivers State as shown by the evidence before it pronounced in very clear terms:

“a government cannot be said to exist without one of the three arms that make up the government of a state under the 1999 Constitution as amended. In this case the head of the executive arm of the government has chosen to collapse the legislature to enable him to govern without the legislature as a despot. As it is there is no government in Rivers State.”

“The above pronouncement came after a catalogue of judicial findings of constitutional breaches against the Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

“Going Forward in their judgment, and having found and held that 27 members of the House who had allegedly defected are still valid members of Rivers State House of Assembly and cannot be prevented from participating in the proceedings of that House by the 8th Respondent (that is, the Governor) in cohorts with four members.

“The Supreme Court then made some orders to restore the state to immediate constitutional democracy. These orders include the immediate passing of an Appropriation Bill by the Rivers State House of Assembly which up till now has not been facilitated.

“Some militants had threatened fire and brimstone against their perceived enemy of the governor who has up till now NOT disowned them.

“Apart from that both the House and the governor have not been able to work together.

“Both of them do not realise that they are in office to work together for the peace and good governance of the state.”

However, efforts seem to be ongoing to see the emergency rule overturned.

Fubara, in a recent statement, confirmed that peace process is ongoing.

He said, “We are already in the peace process. I want you to thank Mr President for his timely intervention to salvage the situation, and stabilise the polity and the State. If not for Mr President, the story today would have been different.

“I don’t know how he gets his information, but the truth is that he acted with wisdom at the right time. He is the one you should thank. And let me also thank him personally for his intervention, and the personalities across the country, who moved in and appealed to him to intervene.

“We have to come down from our high horses and subject ourselves to the peace process. And that is what we are doing. What is important is for the State to move forward. It is not about you, the interest of the State is paramount.”