President Bola Tinubu has agreed to reinstate suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, but only under strict conditions that significantly curtail the governor’s political power and future ambitions. The agreement, reached during a closed-door meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, includes the stipulation that Fubara will not seek re-election in 2027, effectively limiting his tenure to a single four-year term.
As part of the truce, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, will be granted the authority to nominate all local government chairpersons across Rivers State’s 23 LGAs, restoring his influence at the grassroots level. The deal also requires Fubara to pay all outstanding allowances and entitlements owed to the 27 lawmakers loyal to Wike, who were previously suspended from the state assembly. In exchange, these lawmakers have agreed not to initiate any impeachment proceedings against Fubara.
Presidency sources describe the arrangement as a major breakthrough in efforts to restore calm and democratic order to Rivers State after months of political crisis and paralysis. However, insiders note that the terms come at a steep cost for Fubara, who must forgo both local government control and any plans for a second term.
The truce is seen as a victory for Wike, who retains significant political leverage in the state, while President Tinubu’s intervention is credited with averting a prolonged crisis in the oil-rich region.
