By Ebiere Kekeboro
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has successfully mediated a peace deal between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, along with members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The breakthrough came after a closed-door meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday night.
According to the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu’s efforts have once again demonstrated his commitment to peace and stability in Rivers State.
“President Tinubu has demonstrated once again that he wants peace for Rivers State, Just like he brought together the political gladiators to sign a peace deal in December 2023, he repeated the same on Thursday night,” Onanuga said.
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The peace talks, which were attended by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and House Speaker Martins Chike Amaewhule, signal a major thaw in tensions between the feuding parties.
A source close to the presidency revealed that all parties had signaled they had resolved their differences, noting that their body language after meeting with Tinubu indicated a significant reduction in tensions.
Recall that the crisis in Rivers State began in late 2023, stemming from a fierce power tussle between Wike and his political godson, Fubara, over the control of the state’s political machinery. The conflict had resulted in parallel legislative factions, executive suspensions, and a near-complete breakdown of lawmaking and governance. In March 2025, Tinubu responded by declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the state assembly.
The President’s decision to convene a peace meeting between the feuding parties is seen as a positive step towards resolving the crisis. With this new resolution, there are strong indications that democratic governance may return to the state, pending the lifting of the emergency rule. The meeting marks the second time President Tinubu has personally mediated the crisis, having earlier invited both sides to Aso Rock in December 2023, leading to a signed truce that eventually broke down.
The development has been welcomed by many, who see it as a crucial step towards restoring peace and stability in Rivers State. As the state begins to heal from the wounds of the crisis, there are hopes that the peace deal will hold and that democratic governance will be restored soon.