Tinubu Hosts Reconciliation Meeting With Wike, Fubara, Rivers Lawmakers

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday hosted a high-stakes reconciliation meeting at the Presidential Villa with key political actors from Rivers State, amid ongoing tensions stemming from the recent state of emergency declared in the oil-rich region.

Present at the meeting were the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike; suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara; and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly led by the suspended Speaker, Martins Amaewhule.

Tribune Online gathered that the closed-door meeting was convened by President Tinubu in a bid to restore political stability in Rivers State following a constitutional crisis that led to his declaration of emergency rule on March 18. The president had cited Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, arguing that the situation posed a grave threat to both national security and economic stability.

In response to the crisis, Tinubu had suspended Governor Fubara, his deputy, and members of the state assembly. He subsequently appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibas Ibok-Ete as Sole Administrator—a move that was later ratified by the National Assembly.

The emergency declaration triggered widespread backlash across the country. Prominent voices including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, several governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), civil society organisations, and various political pressure groups condemned the president’s actions, calling them undemocratic and unconstitutional.

In the weeks following his suspension, Governor Fubara made a rare public appearance at a memorial event for the late elder statesman Pa Edwin Clark, during which he stated, “My spirit left the government house a long time ago.” He urged the public to stop agitating for his return, suggesting he had emotionally and mentally detached from the role.

Meanwhile, in a separate media chat with select journalists in Abuja, Minister Wike revealed he had not supported the idea of a state of emergency. He claimed that President Tinubu’s intervention actually saved Fubara from an imminent impeachment. Wike also disclosed that two unnamed governors had previously tried to mediate between them, and he became emotional whenever he watched videos of the embattled governor’s speeches.

While no official statement has yet been released by the Presidency or any of the parties involved, photographs from Thursday’s meeting showed Tinubu flanked by Wike, Fubara, and key lawmakers in a visibly relaxed and smiling atmosphere—suggesting that the president may have brokered a reconciliation.

Further details about the resolutions from the meeting are expected in the coming days.