Why FCT Minister is sure Rivers political crisis is finally over

Nyesom Wike, the FCT Minister who is immediate past governor of Rivers State, has openly declared that the rift between him and his estranged political son, Gov Sim Fubara, which has thrown the state into turmoil and political crisis, is over, after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s fourth intervention. He emphatically said it will not come back.

This has forced many political observers to want to know why Wike thinks so. Many ask whether it is because he seems to be the alpha and omega of the crisis, and decides when it starts and when it ends?

To prove this, he seems to have resumed the marketing of the same state and administration has de-marked over the period. Many say soon, they will find him praising Fubara in public and rallying support for the governor he installed.

He had once said he was ready to fight Fubara, whether he was sure to win or not, so long as enough crisis was generated, saying with crisis, nobody can deliver and that the masses would not be happy.

Read also: Tinubu’s peace efforts will yield results this time – Wike

The change of tone in the week came after President Tinubu’s latest intervention (the fourth so far). Tinubu first intervened in 2024 with the eight-point peace accord, which later broke down due to half-hearted implementation by both parties.

The president intervened again in March 2025 with declaration of state of emergency which lasted for six months with the suspension of Giv Fubara and the lawmakers (though many say the lawmakers were not fully suspended because they still went on what they called legislative vacation abroad and got SUVs and N350m each within the suspension period).

The president intervened again when he allegedly played host to Gov Fubara to conclude the governor’s defection to the national ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), an action that sent dangerous signals to Wike into believing that the President was now backing Fubara as new arrowhead in the state.

The last has just taken place leading to the statement by Wike that the fight was finally over and that it is the President’s last intervention.

Observers believe that Wike must be echoing President Tinubu’s mind in saying the President will not intervene again. Some think that must be what Tinubu told them in the latest intervention, apparently warning both parties that he will not bother to intervene. He must have used body language to let them know what would happen should they go back to crisis. The subtle threat may be something none of the parties is willing to face.

Has Wike made a kill?

Many say for the FCT Minister who wastes no time to move down to Port Harcourt to start war moves to be declaring end to the fight, the obvious demands and conditions may have been met at the Aso Rock peace meeting. Many had hinted during the latest impeachment push which began after he paid a visit to the lawmakers in PH and after he mounted state-wide ‘thank you’ tour of 22 out of the 23 LGAs. He launched verbal threats and missiles at Fubara and energized his followers and supporters into believing that he (Wike) was in charge, was the real leader, and remains the man Tinubu knows in Rivers State.

Insiders said the impeachment plot was actually not to get Fubara out but to force the presidency to make one more intervention this time by getting both parties into a firmest commitment to the peace deal. They had claimed that Wike wanted the president to commit during the peace talks to ensure a prominent position for him (Wike) in the 2027 Tinubu administration after election because of widespread belief that the president may discard Wike either before or after 2027.

Others say that the latest agreement must have made it clear that Fubara must not attempt to continue in 2027, meaning that he would not be involved in the primaries which would begin soon this 2026. The other concession many said Wike was seeking is that the lawmakers who are believed to be Gov Fubara’s targets of removal through recall or at the primaries must be returned. The lawmakers had openly accused the governor of being bent on removing them through recall.

Two other conditions or demands that may not have been openly canvassed include what share of state allocations (plus IGR) would be handed out, and the issue of allocation of slots in the cabinet. Wike had recently said he was not keen on nominating persons to the cabinet, any more. Both parties have kept mum on demands for share of the revenue of the state, but Fubara has made different allusions to the point of mentioning 35%. The troubles were said to have begun in 2023 when IGR statements were said to be kept opaque to Fubara and meagre amount was being submitted. Fubara said he opened his eyes and the amount changed from regular N10bn per month to N28bn per month. Fubara was required to get approvals on who would visit the Governor and where the governor was to travel to.

During the emergency rule, Fubara lost the LGA structure back to Wike, which was a major reason for the crisis of 2024 after 2023 version. So, at the end of the emergency rule, Fubara lost the LGA structure, had already lost the House of Assembly, lost the budget, and only had the cabinet. He is said to get only one concession; no more impeachment. Many now call it ‘one-point-victory’ out of five key points.

Now, after the Aso Rock peace accord details of which remain secret, Fubara rushed back to PH to dissolve the cabinet. This was seen as firm indication that both parties have irrevocably agreed to obey Mr President. Many say, if Wike is happy, the state would be in peace.

Read also: Tinubu meets Wike, Fubara again

Wike makes it clear:

It was reported after the meeting that the FCT Minister told newsmen that President Tinubu’s latest intervention is expected to bring an end to the prolonged standoff between the executive and the legislature (actually between him and Fubara).

Speaking, Wike described the president’s role as that of a father stepping in to resolve disputes between the state governor and the legislature.

“He is very kind to the people of the state. If there seems to be any problem between the legislature and the governor, as a father, he really has to intervene,” Wike said.

He said this was the second time (actually fourth) Tinubu was personally intervening in the Rivers political rift and expressed strong confidence that the latest effort would permanently resolve the discord.

“I believe by the grace of God that this will be the last time Mr President will intervene,” Wike said.

The former Rivers governor said he had already instructed the parties involved to comply fully with the president’s directives, adding that he was certain they would not disobey.

And I have told them to obey Mr President and I know that they would not hesitate,” he said.

Wike expressed optimism that Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers, would fulfil his own part of the agreement or understanding reached during the presidential intervention.

“And I know that the governor would carry out his own part to make sure that this is the final time that Rivers people will hear this kind of discord,” he added.

Fubara takes first step, dissolves:

Truly as Wike predicted, compliance seems fast. Gov Fubara has dissolved the state’s Executive Council, days after the latest round of peace process between Fubara and Wike.

Those close to the governor gave hints, saying it actually part of the broader realignment expected to produce a more inclusive executive council reflecting the new political understanding between camps loyal to the governor and Wike.

Analysts suggested the move may open the door for the reconstitution of the cabinet to accommodate loyalists from both political blocs, thereby stabilising governance and restoring cohesion within the state’s political leadership.

While details of the reconciliation terms have not been made public, the development is being seen as a strategic reset aimed at ending months of acrimony and restoring administrative focus.

With the executive council now dissolved, attention turns to the Governor’s next move — particularly the composition of a new cabinet and whether it will cement the fragile peace forged at the highest level of the Presidency.

Conclusion:

The Presidency may have finally made itself clear because it seemed to rather be confusing the people of the state and most Nigerians on who was in charge in Rivers State.

Daniel Bwala had spoken for the presidency reaffirming what the national secretary of the APC had said earlier that Fubara, now in APC as governor, was 001. Bwala added that Wike was not even member of the APC let alone to be leader of the APC in Rivers State.

This was followed by Kashim Shettima, Vice President, who made it clear that governors including the defecting ones, were now the leaders of the APC in their various states. Tinubu was however to be quoted few days later that as far as he was concerned, Wike remained the ‘Ultimate Leader’ of Rivers State no matter his party. This created huge confusion and a big lull in the Fubara camp. Now, Tinubu seems to have returned everything to Wike, and Fubara seems to have accepted his fate. His gain: no more impeachment.

Has Wike got all the terms he was said to have demanded for provoking the latest crisis and impeachment? The facts are fast exploding.

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