Fubara visits President Tinubu in Lagos amid ongoing political crisis

In a significant development concerning the protracted political crisis in Rivers State, the suspended Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, paid a visit to President Bola Tinubu in Lagos on Tuesday. This marks the first publicly known meeting between the two since President Tinubu’s intervention in the state’s affairs several months ago.

Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga confirmed the meeting, sharing photographs on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle Tuesday evening, with the caption, “Governor Sim Fubara of Rivers, now on suspension from office, visited President Bola Tinubu in Lagos on Tuesday.” As of now, no official details regarding the content or outcome of their discussions have been released.

The political turmoil in Rivers State is rooted in an intense power struggle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who currently serves as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

This deep-seated rift has led to a significant division within the state assembly, with rival factions aligning with either Fubara or Wike.

On March 18, 2025, President Tinubu took the extraordinary step of declaring a six-month state of emergency in Rivers State. This led to the suspension of Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The President cited the urgent need to restore peace and order in the oil-rich coastal state, following months of failed mediation efforts and reports of pipeline explosions in the region.

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As part of this intervention, retired naval chief Ibok-Ette Ibas was appointed as the sole administrator of the state to oversee its affairs during the period of suspension.

At the time of the declaration, President Tinubu stated, “Given the gravity of the situation, no responsible president would remain passive. Extraordinary measures, as permitted by the Constitution, were necessary to restore peace, good governance, and security in Rivers State.”

Despite his suspension, Governor Fubara has consistently expressed a willingness to pursue reconciliation and foster peace in the state.

He has publicly acknowledged Wike as his “boss” and indicated a desire to resolve the dispute through dialogue.

This recent meeting with President Tinubu is seen by many political observers as a potential step towards de-escalating the crisis and finding a lasting resolution for Rivers State.