Rivers Crisis
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, may this week transmit a fresh list of commissioner nominees to the state House of Assembly for screening and confirmation, following renewed efforts to end the political impasse in the state.
President Bola Tinubu
The move is said to be one of the outcomes of a fresh peace agreement brokered by President Bola Tinubu between Fubara and his estranged political mentor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Familiar with the development
According to sources familiar with the development who spoke with The Nation, President Tinubu on Sunday night convened a closed-door meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. In attendance were Governor Fubara, Minister Wike, the Speaker of the Rivers Assembly, and some prominent elders from the state.
The lingering power tussle
The high-level talks were aimed at resolving the lingering power tussle that has paralysed governance in Rivers State and threatened Fubara’s tenure. The President minced no words in telling the governor the truth. He wasn’t happy with the way Fubara had carried on,” a source at the meeting disclosed.
President Tinubu
During the meeting, it was learnt that President Tinubu laid out three clear options for Governor Fubara to ensure political survival and avoid an imminent impeachment by the House of Assembly. Top among the conditions was the full implementation of the original peace accord, earlier brokered by the President in late 2023, following threats of emergency rule.
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Understanding requires Fubara
Sources said part of the new understanding requires Fubara to reinstate commissioners loyal to Wike or submit a new list agreeable to both parties for Assembly confirmation.
Governor Fubara reportedly
Following the meeting at Aso Rock, Governor Fubara reportedly visited Wike’s residence in the Guzape area of Abuja, where he is said to have tendered a private apology in a move seen as part of the reconciliation effort. Despite expressing displeasure over Governor Fubara’s handling of the crisis, President Tinubu was also reported to have cautioned against his impeachment.