Wike and Fubara
The political feud between the suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, may have worsened following a dramatic walkout by women believed to be Fubara’s supporters at an event attended by the wife of the Sole Administrator, Theresa Ibas.
This came amid ongoing reconciliation efforts initiated by a national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Segun Osoba, to restore peace between the two former political allies.
The PUNCH reports that Osoba, alongside Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, took Fubara to meet Wike at his residence.
It was gathered that Fubara also met President Bola Tinubu in London, United Kingdom, during his brief visit.
The suspended governor returned to the country on Friday after a vacation in Germany.
However, the ongoing protests and the walkout on the representative of the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, at an event in Port Harcourt on Friday, may have put a cog in the wheel of the peace talks.
Wike, who is currently in China for official engagements, condemned the walkout in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, on Saturday. He described it as “very disturbing and embarrassing” to the people of the state.
Wike asked the suspended governor to demonstrate honesty by being bold enough to tell the President what he wanted, rather than pretending.
He said, “It is not enough to be visiting people to plead for peace; those who genuinely want peace work and act for it.
“These are the same people pleading for peace, but at the same time doing things that are contrary to what they are pleading for.
“How can you say you want peace and at the same time, you are sponsoring people to insult everyone, including the President and his wife?
“All those shenanigans won’t bring peace, and I am sure they know that because they are not sincere with their up-and-down pleadings for peace.”
Wike accused Fubara of sabotaging peace efforts, adding that Fubara had repeatedly acted in bad faith, despite interventions by the President to restore order in the state.
The crisis
The political crisis in Rivers State began soon after Fubara started asserting his independence, leading to a rift with Wike, who is widely believed to still wield significant influence over the state’s political machinery.
By late 2023, the feud became public, with the Rivers State House of Assembly — largely loyal to Wike— attempting to impeach Fubara.
This triggered a series of confrontations, including the demolition of the Assembly complex, defections, and parallel claims of legitimacy within state institutions.
Despite President Tinubu’s intervention and a peace deal signed in December 2023, the conflict persisted.
Tensions escalated after the February 28, 2025 judgment of the Supreme Court, which affirmed the legitimacy of the Martin Amaewhule-led faction of the Assembly.
The rising confrontation between the governor and the lawmakers ultimately led to the declaration of a state of emergency by the President on March 18, and the appointment of a Sole Administrator, Vice Adm Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.).
Since the emergency rule was declared, various groups have taken to the streets in protest, including the state chapters of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, which boycotted the May Day rally at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt. Punch
