After months of political tension that divided Rivers State, suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor Nyesom Wike have publicly declared an end to their feud, assuring residents that peace has been restored following a reconciliation brokered by President Bola Tinubu.
The breakthrough came after a crucial Thursday night meeting at the Presidential Villa, where both leaders and other key stakeholders agreed to work together for the state’s progress. The resolution marks a significant turning point in the political crisis that had gripped Nigeria’s oil-rich state.
Wike, who currently serves as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, expressed gratitude for the peaceful resolution when addressing journalists after the meeting.
“I want to give God the glory that today is the 26th of June 2025, that peace has finally returned to the state,” Wike said. “We all agreed to work together with the governor, and the governor also agreed to work together with all of us. We are members of the same political family.”
The former governor acknowledged that political disagreements are inevitable but emphasized this resolution represents a fresh start.
“Just like humans, you have disagreements, and then you also have a time to also settle your disagreements, and that has been finally concluded today,” Wike explained. “We have come to report to Mr President that is what we have agreed. So for me, everything is over, and I enjoin everybody to work together with everybody. There is no more acrimony; there is nothing to say. We have disagreed; we have all agreed on everything, so thank God. For me, it’s a day we have to thank almighty God.”
Governor Fubara echoed these sentiments, stressing the importance of peace for Rivers State’s development.
“For me, it’s very important that this day has come to be,” Fubara told journalists. “What we need for the progress of Rivers State is peace, and by the special grace of God this night, with the help of Mr President and the agreement of the leaders of the state, peace has returned to Rivers State.”
The governor pledged his commitment to sustaining this newfound peace, describing it as a crucial step toward lasting stability and effective governance in the strategically important state.
The reconciliation follows months of political tension that had threatened to paralyze governance in Rivers State, home to Nigeria’s crucial oil and gas industry. President Tinubu’s intervention appears to have successfully mediated between the warring factions, with both leaders now publicly committing to work together for the state’s progress.