President Bola Tinubu recently met with suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, in London to defuse the ongoing political crisis in the state. The meeting, confirmed by The Africa Report, took place at Fubara’s request. Fubara assumed office in May 2023.
At the time of this report, PUNCH could not verify the specifics of the meeting. Presidential aides, however, indicated that they were not part of the President’s current trip. Officials confirmed that this was the first face-to-face meeting since Tinubu invoked Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution on March 18. That declaration of a state of emergency removed Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, from office.
Tinubu’s Efforts to Restore Governance in Rivers State
In his national broadcast on March 18, Tinubu cited “months of intense political instability” that had “paralyzed governance” and “threatened national stability.” He appointed Navy Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas as the sole administrator for Rivers State.
Opposition governors from seven PDP-controlled states quickly filed a lawsuit at the Supreme Court. They challenged the constitutionality of the proclamation and called for a return to democratic governance.
Tinubu, who had been in Paris and London since April 2, agreed to meet with Fubara to help resolve the crisis. Officials confirmed that the two discussed ways to restore a functional government in the oil-rich state. Though neither side shared specific details, presidential aides, speaking anonymously, said the talks centered on the possibility of Fubara returning to office before the end of his six-month suspension.
The President returned to Abuja on Monday night after spending 18 days abroad. Fubara’s estranged political godfather, Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, was not part of the meeting. Wike reportedly felt uneasy about the discussions happening without him.
However, Tinubu is expected to meet with Fubara, Wike, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to find a lasting solution to the state’s political crisis.
