The escalating political rift between the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, and Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, played out visibly on Tuesday during a meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Both Wike and Fubara were part of a delegation from Ogoniland that met with the President to discuss the resumption of oil production in the region.
Vanguard reported that despite their shared presence at the high-level engagement, the two leaders reportedly avoided exchanging pleasantries, highlighting the strain in their relationship.
A source privy to the meeting disclosed the noticeable tension between the two politicians.
“Though both of them posed for a photograph with the President, they did not exchange pleasantries. No hug. No greetings. Everybody went straight for the meeting with the President, and after that, we all left,” the source said.
The source added that Wike attended the meeting as a federal minister representing Rivers State and returned to his official duties immediately after the group photograph with President Tinubu.
“As a minister from Rivers, Wike must, as a necessity, be present whenever the President is meeting with a delegation from the state. The meeting was not a platform for the discussion of the Rivers political crisis. It was strictly a business parley,” he explained.
The meeting, which focused on economic prospects in Ogoniland, did not offer an opportunity for President Tinubu to address the political feud. However, the President briefly engaged with Senator Magnus Abe, a key figure in Rivers politics and ally of Wike.
“The President only engaged Magnus. He told Magnus that he had not been seeing him for some time, and Magnus replied that he had been around with the FCT Minister. At that point, Wike confirmed that Magnus had been working with him,” the source revealed.
This encounter underscores the growing complexity of the Rivers State political crisis, which has drawn national attention.
In a live television interview last Monday, Wike reiterated his unwillingness to reconcile with Fubara as long as the crisis persists. His stance has fueled concerns about the potential long-term impact on governance and development in Rivers State.
Amid the escalating tensions, the Pan Niger Delta Elders Forum has launched a peace initiative to mediate between Wike and Fubara. The committee, chaired by former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Obong Victor Attah, aims to bring the two leaders to the negotiating table.
“This is yet another golden opportunity for both of them to end the fight and make up for peace so that Rivers State can move forward. The crisis is not doing the state any good. They must end this fight and utilize the opportunity offered by PANDEF,” a source close to the elders’ forum said.
The ongoing feud between Wike and Fubara has raised concerns among stakeholders about its detrimental effects on governance and development in Rivers State. Many have called for a swift resolution to prevent further instability in the oil-rich state.
