Amid sustained political tensions in Rivers State, a leading voice among the state’s elder statesmen has hailed Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s surprise visit to his estranged political godfather and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, as a courageous and sacrificial gesture in the interest of peace.
Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, a respected member of the Rivers Elders and Leaders Council and pioneer spokesperson of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), in a statement on Monday described the visit as a demonstration of maturity and a genuine commitment to reconciliation.
“This visit is not for public showmanship, it is a sacrifice aimed at ending the political turmoil troubling Rivers State,” Sara-Igbe said. “Governor Fubara has always demonstrated a clear desire for peace. Unlike Wike, who has taken a combative approach, Fubara’s actions continue to show he places Rivers people above political pride.”
The comment comes just days after Governor Fubara reportedly visited Wike at his residence in Port Harcourt. The visit, according to sources and later confirmed by Wike himself, included two governors from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and another unnamed individual.
“Yes, he came,” Wike said during a live media chat. “He came with two APC governors and one other person. He said he wants peace — that’s fine. I also want peace.”
Wike, who governed Rivers State for eight years before becoming FCT Minister, has long been at loggerheads with Fubara, his protégé-turned-political rival. The rift, which started shortly after Fubara assumed office in 2023, has led to fierce political wrangling, including a failed impeachment attempt, legislative division, and mass resignations of commissioners loyal to Wike.
Wike, while confirming the meeting, maintained that Fubara’s travails were self-inflicted, citing what he perceived as arrogance and a failure to heed the counsel of political allies.
“When this started, we advised him — myself, Seyi Makinde, Ortom, Ikpeazu, and Ugwuanyi. We told him to be humble and not allow political jobbers mislead him,” Wike said.
According to Wike, the advice was to avoid alienating the political structure that brought him into power. “He is a governor, nobody disputes that. But he must not forget those who worked tirelessly to ensure his victory,” he stressed.
In contrast, Sara-Igbe and other elders in the region insist that it is Fubara who has shown the greatest commitment to peace. “He is the governor of everyone. He went to Wike not out of weakness but humility — a key trait in any true leader seeking unity,” Sara-Igbe said.
Political observers believe the visit could be a strategic turning point in efforts to end the prolonged crisis, especially as national leaders, including President Bola Tinubu, have in the past intervened to broker peace between the two camps.
Meanwhile, Wike also addressed pressing governance issues in the Federal Capital Territory. On the controversial issue of open grazing, he noted that while grazing reserves were designated within the FCT, illegal encroachment had stalled progress.
“There’s a 100-hectare area set aside for grazing, but land grabbers have complicated the issue. We are doing what we can, but we must move cautiously,” he said.
As the Rivers political drama continues to unfold, Fubara’s peace overture, despite political risks, signals a possible thaw in the cold war that has paralyzed governance in the oil-rich state.
For now, all eyes remain on what will follow the quiet but consequential meeting — a step that could mark either the beginning of reconciliation or just another pause in a protracted political standoff.