Reports indicate that Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s loyalists were conspicuously absent from a recent reunion meeting with his predecessor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, in Port Harcourt.1 This absence is a significant development in the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State.
Here are the key details surrounding the meeting and the reasons for the absence of Fubara’s allies:
- The Meeting: The closed-door meeting, which took place on a Saturday night, was convened by the Rivers Elders and Leaders Council.2 Attendees included Governor Fubara, Minister Wike, members of the State House of Assembly, and several politicians loyal to Wike.3
- The Absence of Fubara’s Loyalists: This was not the first time a peace meeting has been reportedly dominated by Wike’s camp.4 The absence of key figures who have been publicly aligned with Fubara, such as certain elders and his political associates, has raised concerns about the sincerity and inclusiveness of the reconciliation process.
- A “One-Sided” Meeting: A source close to the governor, who spoke anonymously to the media, described the meeting as “one-sided.”5 The source questioned why prominent elders who had supported Fubara were not invited, likening it to a previous reconciliation attempt that also appeared to be dominated by Wike’s loyalists.
- A Move to “Return to Political Roots”: In contrast, a loyalist of Wike defended the meeting, stating that its purpose was to “bring the governor back to his political roots.”6 The source emphasized that those present were the ones who had supported Wike in nominating Fubara for office in 2023, and that politics is about loyalty.7
- Supreme Court Judgment and Recent Events: The meeting took place shortly after a Supreme Court judgment that recognized the pro-Wike faction of the State House of Assembly.8 Following this, Fubara sacked commissioners and other public office holders who were screened by the opposing faction.9 This has further deepened the rift between the two camps.
This situation highlights the continuing tension between the Fubara and Wike factions, despite public declarations of a truce. While the meeting was described as a step toward “full unification,” the absence of key figures from one side suggests that true reconciliation may still be a distant prospect.
