Fubara Meets Wike, Loyalists To Consolidate Peace In Rivers

Fubara Meets Wike, Loyalists to Consolidate Peace in Rivers State

In a significant political development aimed at stabilizing Rivers State’s fragile peace, Governor Siminalayi Fubara convened a closed-door meeting with his predecessor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, alongside a host of loyalists and political heavyweights.

The gathering, held at the Port Harcourt residence of elder statesman Chief Ferdinand Alabraba, extended into the early hours of Sunday, October 5, 2025, and marked a renewed effort to consolidate the calm that has returned to the oil-rich state after years of political turbulence.

The meeting followed a valedictory session earlier in the week between Governor Fubara and members of his cabinet, during which he directed commissioners affected by a Supreme Court judgment on the Rivers political crisis to step aside. Eight other commissioners, unaffected by the ruling, have since resumed their official duties. This reshuffling signaled a strategic move by the governor to realign his administration in accordance with legal and political realities.

Although the details of the discussions were not officially disclosed, sources close to the meeting suggest that both Fubara and Wike are aligning their efforts to uphold the peace accord brokered by President Bola Tinubu during the six-month emergency rule declared in March 2025. Governor Fubara had recently visited President Tinubu to reaffirm his commitment to maintaining peace and to seek counsel on avoiding a relapse into political crisis.

The presence of key political figures at the meeting underscored its importance. Attendees included the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule; Senators Barinada Mpigi, Magnus Abe, Wilson Ake, George Sekibo, and Olaka Nwogu; members of the House of Representatives Felix Nwaeke and Kelechi Nwogu; Deputy Speaker Dumle Maol; and House Leader Major Jack. Also in attendance were Chief Ferdinand Alabraba, HRM Sergeant Awuse, Chief OCJ Okocha (SAN), four former Attorneys-General—Frank Owhor, Ken Chikere, Worgu Boms, and Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor (SAN); APC South-South Vice Chairman Victor Giadom; PDP State Chairman Chukwuemeka Aaron; and Port Harcourt City Mayor Alwell Ihunda.

Further bolstering the political weight of the meeting were former Minister of Environment Udi Odom; HYPREP Board Chairman Emma Deeyah; former federal lawmakers Chidi Wihioka and Chinyere Igwe; former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani; Boma Iyaye of the NDDC; Marcus Nle Eji of the South South Development Commission; Prof. Henry Ogiri of the National Population Commission; Emeka Woke of NOSDRA; Dr. Sampson Parker of the Rivers State Hospital Management Board; Fred Kpakol of the HYPREP Board; former PDP Chairman Felix Obuah; and Chidi Amadi, Chief of Staff to the FCT Minister.

Despite the absence of Governor Fubara’s close allies, which has sparked unease within his camp, the meeting was described by insiders as more of a “family reunion” than a political negotiation. The tone was reportedly informal, with elders offering counsel and appreciation for efforts made to restore peace. Discussions reportedly touched on the dissolution of certain state agencies, future appointments, and the structure of the state executive, all aimed at reinforcing governance and stability.

Minister Wike, in a recent appearance on Channels Television’s “Politics Today,” reiterated his commitment to the peace process and dismissed any intention to influence the selection of new commissioners, a notable departure from the 2023 scenario when most cabinet members were inherited from his administration.

Political analysts view the meeting as a pivotal moment in Rivers State’s journey toward reconciliation and unity. The convergence of such a broad spectrum of political actors signals a collective desire to move past the divisions that have plagued the state and to forge a path of cooperation and progress.