PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday evening held a crucial meeting with Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, at the State House, Abuja, in a move widely seen as part of ongoing efforts to consolidate peace and restore full democratic governance in the oil-rich state.
News Point Nigeria reports that Fubara, who arrived at the Presidential Villa at about 6:30 pm, was received by senior aides before being ushered into the President’s office for the closed-door talks.
This is the first known face-to-face meeting between Tinubu and Fubara since the Governor resumed office last Thursday following the end of the six-month state of emergency imposed on Rivers State in March.
President Tinubu had on March 18 declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, citing escalating political tensions and threats to security that paralysed governance and put lives and property at risk.
During the emergency period, the President suspended democratic structures and appointed a sole administrator to steer the affairs of the state while efforts were made to restore calm.
In a nationwide broadcast last week, Tinubu announced the lifting of the emergency rule, praising security agencies and stakeholders for their role in returning relative stability to the state.
“The return of peace to Rivers State is a testament to the resilience of its people and the efforts of security and political leaders to find common ground,” the President said.
Today’s meeting, according to Presidency sources, is expected to focus on sustaining the peace, strengthening local governance institutions, and ensuring that political actors across divides remain committed to dialogue rather than confrontation.
A presidential source told News Point Nigeria that the discussions may also touch on security arrangements for the state, the reintegration of democratic structures, and strategies for accelerating development projects that were stalled during the crisis.
President Tinubu’s meeting with Governor Fubara comes on a day of intense political consultations at the Villa.
Earlier, the President met with several key figures, including: Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq (Chairman, Nigeria Governors Forum), Governor Hope Uzodimma (Chairman, Progressive Governors Forum), Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas and Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Zacch Adedeji.
In an interview with State House correspondents shortly after the meeting with Tinubu, Fubara said political stability has fully returned to Rivers.
He also said he was now in a good relationship with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
“I don’t know what you mean by if this is a paper peace. As far as I’m concerned, we have made peace. Fubara and his principal are working together,” he said when asked whether the peace was real or not.
Fubara thanked President Bola Tinubu for his role in ensuring that Rivers State enjoys peace and development.
He said he was at the Villa to appreciate the President, whom he also described as a father, and “tell him that I’m back”.
“You’re aware that suspension was lifted [at] midnight [on September] 17, and I came in on the 19th. Ideally, it’s proper for me to see Mr. President and to tell him that I’m back, and I’ve also resumed my responsibility as the Governor of the Rivers State.
“It’s not much. It’s father-son discussion, telling him thank you and and the areas where, if at all, there should be any issue for him to guide me properly so we don’t be in any situation of crisis. That’s all,” said Fubara.