President Bola Tinubu on Thursday convened a closed-door meeting at the Presidential Villa with major political actors from Rivers State, as efforts intensify to address the lingering crisis destabilizing the oil-rich region.
The high-level talks brought together Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly Martins Amaewhule, and other assembly members, in a rare public alignment of opposing camps.
This gathering marked Governor Fubara’s first public engagement with President Tinubu since March 18.
On that date, the president had declared a state of emergency in the state, suspending Governor Fubara, his deputy Mrs. Ngozi Odu, and the House of Assembly over their inability to cooperate and escalating security threats.
The mood following Thursday’s deliberations appeared optimistic, with official photographs capturing President Tinubu, Governor Fubara, and Minister Wike smiling—a gesture widely interpreted as signaling potential reconciliation.
According to Vanguard, sources within the presidency suggested that the meeting contributed significantly to narrowing the rift between the rival political factions, which has hampered governance in the state.
Discussions reportedly centered on strategies to restore political stability and administrative order in Rivers State.
Although no formal details were disclosed, the visible unity among the leaders points to a possible breakthrough in the ongoing efforts to defuse tensions.
