Rivers Crisis: Wike, Fubara Reach Truce After Meeting With Tinubu

FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and Rivers State Governor, Sim Fabura 

Governor Fubara and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike agree to a truce following a private meeting with President Tinubu

Following weeks of intense back-and-forth in Rivers State, the political rivals in the oil-rich South-South state agreed to a ceasefire on Monday at the Aso Villa in Abuja following a meeting with President Bola Tinubu.

Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who currently serves as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, were present at the meeting. Peter Odili, the former governor of Rivers, as well as a few state traditional leaders were present at the meeting.

The meeting was also attended by Femi Gbajabiamila, the president's chief of staff, and Vice President Kashim Shettima. For the past three months, Rivers State has been transformed into a ridiculous theater, with the state House of Assembly acting as the “boxing ring.” Due to the disagreement between Wike and Fubara, 27 members of the House defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC), which is in power and whose central government Wike currently holds a ministerial position.

Parallel sessions, a plot to remove the governor from office, the demolition of the Assembly building, and a wave of pro-Wike resignations from Fubara's cabinet were also results of the feud. Although the President and a few other prominent figures had already stepped in to address the situation earlier in October, it quickly spiraled out of control.

But following their meeting on Monday, the opposing sides decided to immediately withdraw every legal action that Fubara and his team had taken.

 

Additionally, the Wike camp consented to the immediate termination of any impeachment proceedings that the Rivers State House of Assembly had started against the governor.

The parties to the dispute decided to accept Martin Amaewhule's leadership in the Rivers State House of Assembly rather than Edison Ehie's. Recognizing Amaewhule and his 26 allies who recently defected from the PDP to the APC was agreed upon by the two camps.

Read: Wike Vs. Fubara: Ten Commissioners Have Resigned

As stated in other resolutions: “The remunerations and benefits of all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and their staff must be reinstated immediately and the Governor of Rivers State shall henceforth not interfere with the full funding of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

“The Rivers State House of Assembly shall choose where they want to sit and conduct their legislative business without interference and/or hindrance from the Executive arm of Government.

“The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Fubara, shall re-present the state budget to a properly constituted Rivers State House of Assembly. The names of all commissioners in the Rivers State Executive Council who resigned their appointments because of the political crisis in the state should be resubmitted to the House of Assembly for approval. Insta

“There should not be a caretaker committee for the local governments in Rivers State. The dissolution of the Local Government administration is null and void and shall not be recognised.”