The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has confirmed that he spoke with Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Wednesday, ahead of the governor’s planned return to the state following the lifting of emergency rule by President Bola Tinubu.
Wike, a former governor of the state, disclosed this during an interview on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, on Thursday.
He said peace had been restored in Rivers after six months of emergency rule, noting that political actors were now committed to stability.
“As I speak to you, as of yesterday, I spoke to the governor (Fubara). I told him I was leaving that night to come back, and he told me he was leaving this morning. So, I can tell you that, by the grace of God, peace has returned,” Wike said.
He commended the Rivers State House of Assembly for “setting the tone” for reconciliation, adding, “You can see peace; you can see we are prepared, for the interest of the state. Let’s move forward.”
When asked who initiated the conversation between him and the governor, Wike dismissed the question as irrelevant, insisting that “what matters is that there is peace again in the state.”
PUNCH Online reports that on March 18, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers following the prolonged political standoff between Fubara and members of the House of Assembly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
He subsequently suspended the governor, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and lawmakers for six months and installed a sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), to manage the state’s affairs.
The decision sparked widespread controversy, with critics accusing the president of breaching the Constitution.
However, others hailed the move as a necessary and pragmatic step.
On June 3, Fubara paid a visit to the President at his residence in Lagos State.
That made it the second time Fubara and Tinubu would be meeting behind closed doors, after his suspension.
Fubara also met with Wike to settle their rift and attended several functions together.
Following the meeting, Wike confirmed that the political rift between him and Fubara has been resolved.
On Wednesday, Tinubu ended the emergency rule in the state and asked Fubara, his deputy and the lawmakers to resume work on Thursday, September 18.
