Daud Olatunji
President Bola Tinubu has assured Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, that he will not regret his decision to embrace the peace agreement aimed at resolving the lingering political crisis in the state.
Tinubu gave the assurance on Saturday during the All Progressives Congress presidential campaign rally in Port Harcourt, where he publicly commended Fubara for what he described as maturity, understanding and respect for the intervention of political elders in the protracted dispute.
The President praised the governor for accepting the reconciliation initiative, insisting that his decision to prioritise peace and stability over personal political ambitions was commendable.
Addressing Fubara at the rally, Tinubu said, “I want to thank you specifically for maturity, understanding, and respect for the wisdom of elders. When we intervened, you respected our position and maintained peace. You are a committed democrat. Fubara, you will not regret what you have done.”
The presidential endorsement comes against the backdrop of the protracted political confrontation between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, which plunged Rivers State into months of political uncertainty and institutional instability.
Wike, who played a significant role in Fubara’s emergence as governor in 2023, fell out with his successor shortly after the latter assumed office.
The disagreement triggered a fierce power struggle involving the state House of Assembly, whose members were largely loyal to Wike.
The crisis subsequently escalated, with lawmakers loyal to the former governor making several attempts to impeach Fubara.
The political tension eventually prompted Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State in March 2025, resulting in the suspension of the governor and members of the state legislature for six months.
Although emergency rule ended in September 2025, paving the way for Fubara’s return to office, the underlying political disagreements continued to threaten the stability of the oil-rich state.
The crisis resurfaced in January 2026 when the state lawmakers again initiated impeachment proceedings against Fubara, although the process was suspended following renewed reconciliation efforts.
In a major political development, Fubara subsequently abandoned his re-election ambition and withdrew from the APC governorship primary, citing the need to preserve peace and political stability in Rivers State.
Tinubu later intensified efforts to reconcile the governor and Wike, with both political figures eventually agreeing to work together in support of the President’s re-election bid in 2027.
The President’s latest remarks appear to reinforce his administration’s position that political reconciliation in Rivers State remains a priority as the ruling APC intensifies preparations for the 2027 general elections.
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