LAGOS, Nigeria — Siminalayi Fubara, the suspended governor of Rivers State, met with President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at the president’s private residence in Lagos, as political tensions in the oil-rich state continue to simmer.
The visit comes days after Fubara publicly declared his willingness to reconcile with his political mentor and predecessor, Nyesom Wike, the current minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
However, the precise details and outcome of the meeting with President Tinubu were not immediately disclosed.
Fubara had recently signalled a softening of tone in the long-running feud, stating: “We have to come down from our high horses and subject ourselves to the peace process. And that is what we are doing. What is important is for the state to move forward. It is not about you — the state’s interest is paramount.”
The political crisis in Rivers erupted shortly after Fubara assumed office in 2023, with a power struggle between him and Wike spiralling into open conflict.
The impasse led to a sharp split in the state house of assembly and moves to impeach Fubara.
In response to the prolonged instability, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the state on Tuesday, March 18, 2025.
He suspended Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months.
The president also appointed retired naval chief Ibok-Ete Ibas as the state’s sole administrator, citing the need to maintain governance and restore order.
Fubara’s recent moves suggest a renewed willingness to engage in the peace process, even as questions remain about the future of his political career and the broader implications of federal intervention in state-level politics.
Neither the presidency nor Fubara’s office has issued an official statement on the Lagos meeting as of Tuesday evening.
