Nigerian President Tinubu Summons Wike, Fubara, and Lawmakers Over Rivers Crisis

By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu

In a high-stakes effort to resolve the deepening political crisis in Rivers State, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday night held a closed-door meeting with key political players from the state at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Present at the tense gathering were the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara; Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule; and several other lawmakers.

Though the details of the discussions remain under wraps, the rare face-to-face meeting between Wike and Fubara has raised hopes of a possible breakthrough in the prolonged standoff that has paralyzed governance in the state for months.

Sources close to the Villa say the atmosphere was “cautious but serious,” as Tinubu reportedly urged all parties to find a peaceful resolution before the crisis spirals further.

Earlier in the day, Fubara was seen in Abuja meeting separately with Speaker Amaewhule, fueling speculation that behind-the-scenes negotiations had already begun before Tinubu’s intervention.

This latest move by the President follows his recent declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State — a drastic decision that saw the suspension of Governor Fubara and several state officials amid growing unrest and political gridlock.

As Rivers residents watch anxiously, the outcome of these talks could either restore calm or trigger further turmoil in one of Nigeria’s most politically charged states.