By George Ozalla
In a surprising move, President Bola Tinubu has brokered a peace deal in the Rivers State political crisis, paving the way for the reinstatement of suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara. According to sources, the agreement was reached during a closed-door meeting at the Presidential Villa on Thursday night, attended by key stakeholders including FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, Fubara, and suspended Speaker Martin Amaewhule.
Under the terms of the deal, Fubara will be reinstated to serve out the remainder of his four-year tenure but will not seek re-election in 2027. In return, Wike will nominate local government chairpersons across the state’s 23 LGAs, granting him significant grassroots control and influence.
Additionally, Fubara has agreed to pay outstanding allowances and entitlements to 27 lawmakers loyal to Wike who were suspended from the state assembly. In exchange, the lawmakers will not initiate impeachment proceedings against him.
Sources close to the presidency described the meeting as a breakthrough in Tinubu’s efforts to restore democratic order in Rivers State. However, the deal comes at a cost for Fubara, who will have to relinquish significant powers and ambitions.
The arrangement is seen as a major win for Wike, who will retain considerable influence over the state’s political machinery through his control of local government chairpersons. The development is expected to bring calm to the state, but the implications of the deal will likely be closely watched in the coming months.
