The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Saturday, made a notable appearance at the burial ceremony of his uncle in Rumuepirikom, located in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
His presence at the event was complemented by the attendance of the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, and the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, along with several other dignitaries.
This joint public appearance by the three key political figures comes just days after a crucial reconciliation meeting was convened at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The high-level peace talks were brokered by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in a renewed effort to resolve the protracted political crisis that has engulfed Rivers State.
During the Abuja meeting, President Tinubu engaged Wike, Fubara, Amaewhule, and other members of the state’s political leadership in closed-door discussions aimed at restoring political stability and fostering unity. The talks reportedly ended with a mutual agreement among the factions to bury the hatchet and collaborate for the sake of the state’s peace and development.
Addressing the press after the meeting, Wike confirmed that a consensus had been reached. “We have all agreed to work together with the governor, and the governor also agreed to work together with all of us. We are members of the same political family,” he stated.
The political turmoil in Rivers State reached a critical point earlier this year when President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the state on March 19, 2025, following a spike in political instability and civil unrest.
The National Assembly swiftly ratified the decision, and retired Vice-Admiral Ibok Ete-Ibas was appointed as the interim administrator to manage the affairs of the state for an initial period of six months.
The renewed show of solidarity at the family burial has sparked fresh hope that the peace accord struck in Abuja may indeed pave the way for long-term reconciliation and governance in Rivers State.