On Monday, February 9, President Bola Tinubu reportedly met with Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, indicating his fourth attempt to resolve the Rivers State political issue.
Recall that the crisis escalated in October 2023 when lawmakers loyal to Wike initiated impeachment proceedings against Fubara, resulting in many legal and political battles.
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that Fubara and Wike were seen leaving the villa together, signaling a possible truce in resolving the crisis between the executive and legislative arms of government.
An unconfirmed report claimed that Fubara begged Wike and vowed never to show him disrespect again.
However, Wike has expressed optimism that this would be the last time Tinubu would intervene.
He also said the president’s counsel is authoritative and binding on all parties involved.
He stressed the importance of stability and progress in Rivers State, encouraging both sides to act properly and uphold the accord struck.
A check by WITHIN NIGERIA revealed that President Bola Tinubu has intervened in the crisis rocking Rivers State between Governor Fubara and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike multiple times.
Despite the intervention of President Bola Tinubu, the crisis continues to escalate, creating more gaps and worsening the disunity between Wike, Fubara, and the legislative arm of the Rivers State Government.
Scholars and political analysts, particularly social commentators in Rivers State, have expressed concern over the resolution of the crisis, hoping the 4th intervention of President Bola Tinubu would bring an end to the political crisis, restoring peace and sanity in the state.
Here is a timeline of President Bola Tinubu’s intervention in the Rivers State crisis:
The First Intervention
In December 2023, President Tinubu facilitated a fragile truce between Wike and Fubara.The fragile truce resulted in a peace deal that prompted Fubara to concede several political appointments to Wike’s loyalists.
Sadly, hostilities resumed barely four weeks after President Tinubu’s intervention, and the State House of Assembly loyal to Wike initiated impeachment proceedings against Fubara.
The Second Intervention
On March 18, 2025, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State.
He also suspended Governor Fubara’s executive powers for six months as a result of rising insecurity and administrative paralysis in the state.
The suspension was caused by a continuing political issue between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who is now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
Tinubu’s declaration, which was supported by Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, also suspended Fubara’s deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the State House of Assembly.
Unconstitutional acts, sidelining the legislative arm, and security concerns such as pipeline vandalism, among others, were reasons responsible for the declaration as cited by President Bola Tinubu.
He appointed Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) as the sole administrator in the state to oversee its affairs during the period.
The Third Intervention
In September 2025, President Tinubu ended the emergency rule after mediating a truce between FCT Minister Wike and Governor Fubara.
According to reports, President Tinubu ended the emergency rule in Rivers after mediating a truce between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and former Governor Nyesom Wike.
Governor Fubara and FCT Minister Wike were seen leaving the Presidential Villa together, and many assumed it would bring a possible end to their long-running political crisis.
Sadly, both parties renewed their political hostility barely two months after the end of emergency rule.
The Fourth Intervention
In February 2026, President Tinubu summoned FCT Minister Wike and Governor Fubara to the Presidential Villa to resolve their political feud.
He also summoned Rivers State leaders for mediation, which marked the latest attempt by the president to resolve the feud between the two leaders.
It was gathered that Fubara accompanied Wike to his residence in Guzape, Abuja, after the closed-door talks.
However, Nyesom Wike has expressed optimism that the recent intervention will be the last.
