President Bola Tinubu has assured Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara that he will not regret accepting the peace agreement brokered to resolve the protracted political crisis in the state, praising him for placing stability above his personal political ambition.
Tinubu gave the assurance on Saturday, November 7, at the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt, where he commended Fubara for respecting the intervention of political leaders and maintaining peace.
Addressing the governor directly, the President described his decision as a demonstration of maturity, understanding and respect for the wisdom of elders.
“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 as long as all of us are alive,” Tinubu said.
The President’s remarks came against the backdrop of the prolonged political confrontation between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), which plunged Rivers State into political uncertainty shortly after the governor assumed office in 2023.
Wike, who played a major role in Fubara’s emergence as governor, fell out with his successor over the control of the state’s political structure. The disagreement triggered a power struggle involving the Rivers State House of Assembly, whose members, largely loyal to Wike, made repeated attempts to impeach the governor.
The crisis escalated in March 2025 when Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, resulting in the suspension of Fubara, his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu, and members of the State House of Assembly for six months.
Emergency rule ended in September 2025, allowing Fubara and the lawmakers to return to their respective positions. However, tensions persisted, with the Assembly initiating another impeachment process against the governor in January 2026 before suspending it following renewed reconciliation efforts.
In a major political development, Fubara announced his withdrawal from the APC governorship primaries on May 20, 2026, saying he had taken the decision in the interest of peace, stability and unity in Rivers State. He also pledged to support whoever emerged as the party’s candidate.
At Saturday’s rally, Fubara publicly acknowledged Tinubu’s intervention and expressed gratitude for the President’s role in resolving the crisis. He also pledged that Rivers State would deliver at least three million votes for Tinubu in the January 16, 2027 presidential election.
“As you have stood for us, we will stand for you. As you have supported Rivers State, Rivers State will support you equally,” the governor said.
He described Tinubu’s intervention as a decisive contribution to the survival of his administration, adding that the President’s commitment to peace had enabled the state to move beyond its political difficulties.
Fubara also acknowledged Wike’s leadership role in the political arrangement in Rivers State, describing the emerging Rainbow Coalition as an alliance involving members of both the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He assured the President that the coalition would mobilise support for his re-election, while Wike similarly declared that Rivers State had resolved to support Tinubu in 2027.
The President, in turn, praised Wike for his contributions to national infrastructure development, describing the FCT minister as a development partner of his administration.
Tinubu’s assurance to Fubara appears to reinforce the reconciliation arrangement between the two Rivers political leaders, although questions remain about the long-term political implications of the governor’s decision to abandon his re-election bid.
The rally, organised by the Wike-led Rainbow Coalition, attracted senior government officials, APC leaders, governors, members of the National Assembly and political supporters from Rivers State and beyond.
With both Fubara and Wike publicly pledging support for Tinubu’s second-term ambition, the President’s visit has underscored the emerging political realignment in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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