IN a renewed effort to consolidate the fragile peace recently restored in Rivers State, Governor Siminalayi Fubara met on Saturday night with his predecessor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, alongside key political allies of the minister, in what sources described as one of the most significant reconciliatory meetings since the protracted political crisis began more than two years ago.
News Point Nigeria reports that the closed-door meeting, held at the Port Harcourt residence of elder statesman Chief Ferdinand Alabraba, reportedly stretched into the early hours of Sunday.
It came just days after the governor directed commissioners affected by the Supreme Court judgment on the Rivers political crisis to step aside, while eight unaffected commissioners have since resumed official duties.
According to reliable sources, the gathering focused on sustaining the delicate calm that followed months of fierce political confrontations between loyalists of both leaders, which had threatened governance in the oil-rich state and tested the limits of the peace accord brokered by President Bola Tinubu.
Although details of the discussions were not disclosed, multiple sources familiar with the meeting confirmed that both Wike and Fubara reiterated their commitment to the peace process and emphasized the need to maintain stability and cooperation across political divides.
The meeting also came shortly after Governor Fubara’s visit to President Tinubu in Abuja, during which he reaffirmed his loyalty to the peace agreement and sought presidential counsel on deepening reconciliation and avoiding any relapse into political hostilities.
In a recent interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Wike had maintained that he remained committed to peace in Rivers, stressing that he had no plans to influence the composition of the new state cabinet, a clear departure from the earlier phase of the crisis when most commissioners were holdovers from his administration.
Saturday night’s meeting was a broad-based reconciliation effort, bringing together prominent figures from both factions, including serving and former lawmakers, party executives, and senior government officials.
Among those in attendance were the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule; Senators Barinada Mpigi, Magnus Abe, Wilson Ake, George Sekibo, and Olaka Nwogu; members of the House of Representatives Felix Nwaeke (Tai/Oyigbo Federal Constituency) and Kelechi Nwogu (Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency); as well as Deputy Speaker Dumle Maol and House Leader Major Jack.
Other notable attendees included Chief Ferdinand Alabraba, HRM Sergeant Awuse, Chief OCJ Okocha (SAN), former Attorneys-General Frank Owhor, Ken Chikere, Worgu Boms, and Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor (SAN); APC South-South Vice Chairman Victor Giadom; PDP State Chairman Chukwuemeka Aaron; and Port Harcourt City Mayor, Alwell Ihunda.
Also present were former Minister of Environment Udi Odom; HYPREP Board Chairman Emma Deeyah; former federal lawmakers Chidi Wihioka and Chinyere Igwe; former Speaker of the State Assembly Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani; Boma Iyaye (Executive Director, Finance & Accounts, NDDC); Marcus Nle Eji (Executive Director, Works/Projects, South-South Development Commission); Prof. Henry Ogiri (Federal Commissioner, NPC); Emeka Woke (Director General, NOSDRA); Dr. Sampson Parker (Chairman, Rivers State Hospital Management Board); Fred Kpakol (Member, HYPREP Board); former PDP Chairman Felix Obuah; and Chidi Amadi, Chief of Staff to the FCT Minister.
The high-level engagement, political observers say, signals a turning point in the state’s power dynamics, as both camps appear to be prioritizing dialogue over confrontation.
The development has been widely viewed as a major boost to governance, stability, and investor confidence in Rivers State, one of Nigeria’s economic powerhouses.
While neither the governor’s nor the minister’s media aides issued an official statement, insiders suggest that the ongoing reconciliation is likely to produce a unified political front ahead of the next phase of governance reforms in the state.
For now, Rivers appears to be taking cautious steps toward lasting peace, one meeting, and one handshake, at a time.
