Suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has publicly affirmed the reconciliation efforts between him and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, urging his supporters to embrace the new peace process as the only viable path to progress.
This development follows a critical peace meeting convened at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, initiated and brokered by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The high-level talks, held behind closed doors, brought together key political stakeholders in Rivers State, including Governor Fubara, Minister Wike, House of Assembly Speaker Martin Amaewhule, and other top political figures from the state.
President Tinubu’s intervention was aimed at ending the deep-rooted political rift that has gripped Rivers State for months. The outcome of the deliberations was a mutual agreement among the factions to reconcile their differences, prioritize the state’s interests, and work together in the spirit of unity and development.
Addressing his supporters shortly after the Abuja meeting, Fubara said he deemed it necessary to give them a direct and transparent update on the situation.
“I had previously met with you here on the 29th of May, 2025, where I mentioned that we were engaged in a peace process,” the governor began. “That process has been ongoing, and today I have called this meeting so you can hear directly from me — not from newspapers, not from social media — but from my own mouth.”
He acknowledged the struggle his camp had endured, stressing that they had fought courageously and made their voices heard. However, he said, the time had come to prioritize peace.
“In my honest judgment, and I believe in the judgment of any sincere observer, it is clear we have done what needed to be done. Now, if we are truthful to ourselves, we must accept that the only path forward is peace. I’ve said before that there is no price too great for peace — and I still stand by that.”
Fubara paid tribute to his former political benefactor, Minister Wike, recognizing the crucial role Wike had played in his emergence and earlier political success.
“Nobody can deny the role Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike played in my journey. Nobody can erase the risks he took. Yes, we’ve had our differences — and real ones at that — but no one here can genuinely claim ignorance of his contributions. If the time has come for reconciliation, then those who truly believe in me should understand that it is the right thing to do.”
He added that real and lasting peace cannot be imposed by outside mediation alone but must stem from genuine dialogue between the individuals involved.
“No matter how well a mediator structures peace, the most effective resolution happens when both parties sit down and say, ‘This is the way forward.’ I’ve had such a conversation with him. He is hurt — and understandably so. I, too, have my own scars from this crisis. But we are human, and healing must begin.”
The governor urged his supporters to stand by him as he navigates the complex terrain of reconciliation, emphasizing that the peace effort was not about personal pride but about the collective interest of the state.
“This isn’t about me alone. It’s about what’s best for Rivers State. Despite the conflict between myself and the FCT Minister, look around — so many vital projects have stalled. So many communities have missed out on potential development. We all know what we could have achieved if peace had reigned. That’s why I say we need this reconciliation, painful as it may be.”
Fubara reassured the people of his commitment to their welfare and promised not to forsake them, even as he asked for their understanding and readiness to make sacrifices for peace to prevail.
“I will never abandon you. Let me state that clearly. I am here because of you, and I will continue to stand with you. However, the road to peace may demand significant sacrifice. We must all be prepared to make that sacrifice together.”
Drawing from cultural wisdom, Fubara invoked a proverb to illustrate the need for humility and strategic thinking.
“In our local tradition, there’s a fish called Atabala — what many of you know as Tilapia. The native Tilapia never grows large. Its mother always tells the young ones: ‘If you want to grow as big as me, you must first bury your head in the mud.’ We have reached that moment. We’ve fought the good fight. But now, to grow, we must embrace peace.”
Governor Fubara expressed hope that with divine guidance and the sincerity of the key actors, the reconciliation would usher in a new era of stability and progress for Rivers State.
“Without full reconciliation — which, by God’s grace, we are now achieving — there can be no real progress in our state. Even the President cannot intervene effectively unless we ourselves agree to move forward. That is why I am appealing to all of you: let us accept this peace, no matter how it looks, no matter how we feel about it. It is the only way forward.”