President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reportedly agreed to reinstate Siminalayi Fubara as the Executive Governor of Rivers State, but with several conditions attached, according to a report by TheCable.
The development follows a closed-door meeting held Thursday night at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. In attendance were President Tinubu, Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, Governor Fubara, suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly Martin Amaewhule, and a select group of lawmakers.
Presidency sources say the meeting was part of a broader effort to de-escalate the political tension in Rivers State and restore democratic stability. As part of the deal, several significant concessions were made.
According to insiders:
- “Fubara will be reinstated to complete his four-year tenure but must forgo any plans to seek a second term in 2027 — a move that will limit his clout but to which he agreed.”
- “Wike would be allowed to nominate all the local government chairpersons across the 23 LGAs of the state. A source in the presidency said this would serve as significant political leverage, restoring grassroots control to the FCT minister.”
- “Fubara has also agreed to pay all outstanding allowances and entitlements owed to the 27 lawmakers loyal to Wike who were suspended from the state assembly.”
In return, it was agreed that the lawmakers would refrain from pursuing impeachment proceedings against the governor.
Sources familiar with the matter described the meeting as a major turning point in President Tinubu’s ongoing efforts to broker peace between the warring Wike and Fubara — though the outcome reportedly comes at a cost to the governor’s authority.
“The arrangement is clear: no second term, no local government control, and peace will return,” one source said.
Another added, “The president made it clear that Rivers cannot afford a prolonged crisis. The deal is about restoring calm, but it comes at a steep cost for Fubara.”
“Wike is the real winner here. By controlling the local government chairmen, he retains significant influence over the state’s political machinery, which will be crucial for 2027.”
The agreement, while seen as a step toward restoring order, significantly redefines the balance of power in Rivers State going forward.
