Tinubu Hosts Peace Talks as Rivers Political Crisis Eases
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday convened a high-level peace meeting with major political stakeholders from Rivers State, signaling a possible breakthrough in the months-long crisis that has paralyzed governance in the state.
The closed-door meeting, held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, brought together key figures including Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly Martins Amaewhule, and several lawmakers.
This marked Governor Fubara’s first public appearance with President Tinubu since the president declared a state of emergency in Rivers State on March 18, a move that led to the suspension of the governor, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and the state assembly amid escalating tensions and a breakdown in administration.
However, Thursday’s dialogue appears to have paved the way for reconciliation. Photographs released after the meeting showed President Tinubu flanked by both Wike and Fubara—smiling, signaling a potential thaw in relations.
Presidency sources confirmed that the discussions addressed the root causes of the political standoff and yielded “significant progress” in restoring unity and functionality to the oil-rich state.
The president is expected to outline next steps following the outcome of the talks, with hopes high for a return to stability and effective governance in Rivers State.
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