From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday, June 3, received suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State in Lagos.
The visit comes amid ongoing political tensions following Fubara’s suspension on March 18, 2025, by President Tinubu, who declared a state of emergency in Rivers State and appointed a sole administrator to oversee the state’s affairs for six months.
Fubara’s suspension followed allegations of gross misconduct and a political crisis involving a power struggle with his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
The crisis led to the suspension of the state assembly and the appointment of retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as administrator.
The visit to President Tinubu is seen as part of ongoing efforts to address the political impasse in Rivers State, which has drawn national attention and legal challenges from opposition parties contesting the suspension’s constitutionality.
Wike, in a June 2025 media chat, said he does not have a personal crisis with Fubara but stressed that true peace cannot be achieved without involving all key stakeholders in the state’s political conflict. He described Fubara as having been used by his enemies to fight him, saying, “The governor, unknown to me, gave himself to be the tool for those who couldn’t fight me to fight me.”
Wike also noted that Fubara’s attempts at reconciliation would not succeed unless they include other parties—state assembly members involved in the crisis.
Wike recalled that Fubara had visited him earlier with two other governors to seek peace, but added that more conciliatory steps are needed beyond that visit.
He also distanced himself from the state of emergency declared by President Tinubu, saying he did not support it but acknowledged it was used to save Fubara from impeachment.
