Nigerian President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has held a meeting with the governor he suspended, Siminalayi Fubara.
The meeting was to discuss the state’s current political crisis. The meeting was reported to have taken place in London last week, just after President Tinubu left the country for an official duty in France. This was revealed via a report on Tuesday, the 22nd of April, after the president returned from his official duty in France on Monday 21st of April.
Rumours have it that the suspended governor pushed for the meeting in Europe. It was asserted that he has been desperate to be reinstated to his office since President Tinubu declared a state of emergency over his state. Further reports revealed that during the meeting, Governor Fubara stated that he would make some compromises.
Also, reports have noted that round table negotiations are currently ongoing in relation to the suspened governor’s reinstatement. Rumours quoting a presidential adviser have also asserted that Governor Fubara’s suspension may be lifted earlier than the official six-month deadline. Also, the presidential aide further related that the suspended governor could have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Moreover, it was noted that Governor Fubara’s erstwhile godfather, the FCT Minister, was not present during the meeting and was not happy about the arrangement of such meetings happening in his absence. However, it is expected that President Tinubu will schedule a meeting between Fubara, his estranged godfather, Nyesom Wike, and all the Rivers State lawmakers to find a lasting solution to the continuous crisis within the state.
The crisis here refers to the order President Tinubu gave on March 18, when he declared a state of emergency in River State. He also suspended Fubara, the deputy governor, Ngozi Odu, and the members for period of six months. The action which was referred to by the media as “The president’s intervention,” according to the statement from the Presidency was carried out because of the oil pipeline attack and the continued political crisis in the state, which was caused by the squabble between the Rivers State Governor and the FCT Minister, Wike. During the same period, the president also appointed and swore in a retired naval official, Ibok-Ete Ibas, as the sole administrator.
This action triggered a series of protests in the state. Also, many prominent Nigerians, especially from opposition parties of LP, PDP, and other parties, criticized the move
By the president. Many regarded him as being undemocratic. By extension, social media users and other concerned Nigerians have expressed their concern on the issue. While people showed their concern on the matter, some others were worried about the precedent it would set for the future of Nigerian democracy. On the side, many social critics have described that act as a power move by President Tinubu as a way any governor who may want to go against his wish would be treated come the 2027 polls. Wike, too, got criticised especially from citizens of Rivers State, as he was regarded as a tool used by the APC to hand Rivers State over to the APC.
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