Efforts to sustain political stability in Rivers
State have gained momentum as Governor Siminalayi Fubara held
another closed-door meeting with his predecessor and current Minister of the
Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Saturday night.
The meeting, which extended into the early hours of
Sunday, took place at the Port Harcourt residence of elder statesman, Chief
Ferdinand Alabraba, and was attended by a large delegation of political
leaders loyal to the FCT Minister.
It comes amid ongoing efforts to consolidate the calm
atmosphere in the oil-rich Niger Delta state, following months of
political tension between the two camps.
Meeting Follows Supreme Court Ruling and
Cabinet Changes
Saturday’s dialogue followed a valedictory session
held earlier in the week between Governor Fubara and members of his cabinet.
During that meeting, the governor directed
commissioners affected by the Supreme Court judgment on the Rivers
political crisis to step aside, while eight others unaffected by the
ruling have since resumed official duties.
Although details of the latest discussion between Fubara
and Wike were not made public, sources familiar with the talks suggest both
leaders are seeking to reinforce the peace accord brokered by President
Bola Tinubu during the six-month political standoff that gripped the state
in 2023–2024.
Tinubu’s Mediation and Renewed Commitment
to Peace
Governor Fubara’s renewed engagement with his
predecessor came shortly after his visit to President Bola Tinubu, where
he reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to peace and stability in
Rivers State.
The governor was said to have sought presidential
counsel on preventing a relapse into the political crisis that previously
disrupted governance and divided party structures across the state.
On his part, Minister Nyesom Wike, during a
recent appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, reiterated
his commitment to the peace process. He emphasized that he had no intention
of influencing the appointment of new commissioners, marking a clear
shift from the 2023 scenario, when several cabinet members were holdovers
from his administration.
Top Political Figures in Attendance
Saturday’s high-level meeting brought together key
political stakeholders from both the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and
the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Those in attendance included:
Also present were Chief Ferdinand Alabraba, HRM
Sergeant Awuse, Chief OCJ Okocha (SAN), and four former
Attorneys-General — Frank Owhor, Ken Chikere, Worgu Boms,
and Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor (SAN).
From the APC, Victor Giadom, South-South Vice
Chairman, attended alongside PDP State Chairman Chukwuemeka Aaron and Port
Harcourt City Mayor Alwell Ihunda.
Others included former Minister of Environment Udi
Odom, HYPREP Board Chairman Emma Deeyah, ex-lawmakers Chidi
Wihioka and Chinyere Igwe, former Speaker Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani,
Boma Iyaye (EDFA, NDDC), Marcus Nle Eji (ED Works/Projects, SSDC),
Prof. Henry Ogiri (Federal Commissioner, NPC), Emeka Woke (DG,
NOSDRA), and Dr. Sampson Parker (Chairman, Rivers State Hospital
Management Board).
Also in attendance were Fred Kpakol (HYPREP Board
Member), former PDP Chairman Felix Obuah, and Chidi Amadi, Chief
of Staff to the FCT Minister.
A Path Toward Lasting Stability
Observers believe the meeting signals a fresh
attempt to heal political divisions and strengthen the unity of the Rivers
political structure under the Tinubu-mediated peace accord.
If sustained, analysts say the collaboration between Fubara
and Wike could mark a turning point in the state’s political
trajectory and ensure uninterrupted governance and development in one of
Nigeria’s most strategic economic regions.
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