Suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and the embattled Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, met face-to-face on Thursday in Abuja in what is being described as a breakthrough in efforts to end the state’s prolonged political crisis.
According to sources quoted by Vanguard, the closed-door meeting ended on a surprisingly positive note. Participants reported that the two rivals not only exchanged pleasantries but were even seen holding hands a gesture viewed as a symbolic commitment to dialogue and reconciliation.
This meeting represents the first direct attempt at reconciling Fubara with the lawmakers who have opposed him since the conflict erupted and spiraled out of control. The crisis reached its peak when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, citing rising tensions and threats to public order, declared a state of emergency in Rivers State on March 19, 2025.
Following the emergency declaration, the National Assembly gave its approval for federal intervention and appointed retired Vice-Admiral Ibok Ete-Ibas, former Chief of Naval Staff, to administer the state for an initial period of six months. This move effectively sidelined the elected state leadership in a bid to prevent further deterioration of security and governance.
Although Governor Fubara had previously met individually with President Tinubu and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike his estranged political mentor and a central figure in the crisis Thursday’s encounter with Speaker Amaewhule is being hailed as the most concrete sign yet of a possible path toward sustainable peace.
Observers see the Abuja meeting as a crucial step in rebuilding trust and restoring functional governance in Rivers State, which is among Nigeria’s most economically vital regions due to its oil wealth.
However, despite Thursday’s apparent progress, significant obstacles to full reconciliation remain. Wike, who has played a central and controversial role in the conflict, has repeatedly insisted that any peace deal must include Governor Fubara addressing specific grievances raised by the Assembly members. Chief among these issues are allegations that salaries and allowances owed to lawmakers have remained unpaid for more than two years a sticking point that has fueled resentment and hardened positions.
As both sides move forward, stakeholders and citizens alike will be watching closely to see whether this initial thaw in relations can be translated into lasting political stability and effective governance for the state.
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