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President Bola Tinubu has assured Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara that he will not regret embracing the peace agreement reached to resolve the lingering political crisis in the state.
Tinubu gave the assurance on Saturday during the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally in Port Harcourt, where he commended Fubara for accepting the intervention of political leaders and withdrawing from the governorship race.
The President praised the governor for showing maturity and respecting the efforts of elders to end the prolonged dispute, which had strained political relations in Rivers State.
“I want to thank you specifically for maturity, understanding, and respect for the wisdom of elders. When we intervened, you respected our position and maintained peace. You are a committed democrat. Fubara, you will not regret what you have done,” Tinubu said.
Fubara’s decision to embrace the peace agreement followed months of political tension involving him and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Wike played a major role in Fubara’s emergence as governor in 2023. However, their relationship deteriorated shortly after Fubara assumed office, triggering a prolonged struggle over the political control of the state.
The dispute deepened as lawmakers loyal to Wike dominated the Rivers State House of Assembly and made several attempts to impeach the governor.
The crisis eventually prompted Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in March 2025, suspending Fubara and members of the state legislature for six months. The emergency rule ended in September 2025, allowing the governor to return to office.
However, political tensions persisted, with the Assembly initiating another impeachment process in January 2026 before suspending it following fresh reconciliation efforts.
The conflict eventually led Fubara to abandon his re-election ambition and withdraw from the APC governorship primary, a decision he attributed to the need to restore peace and stability in the state.
Tinubu subsequently renewed efforts to reconcile Fubara and Wike, with both politicians agreeing to work together towards the President’s re-election in 2027.
