Fubara Breaks Silence, Backs Emergency Rule After Private Meeting With Tinubu, Thankful For Intervention

 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has engaged in a discreet but consequential meeting with suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, signaling a potential shift in the unfolding political drama that has gripped the oil-rich state since the imposition of Emergency Rule in March 2025.

The meeting, which took place on Tuesday at the President’s private residence in Lagos, was the first direct engagement between Tinubu and Fubara since the controversial federal intervention that led to the suspension of the democratically elected state government. Details of the closed-door session remain undisclosed, but political observers believe it could lay the groundwork for a gradual restoration of constitutional order in the troubled state.

President Tinubu’s emergency declaration on March 18 shocked the nation. Rivers State became the epicenter of a constitutional storm after escalating violence and what was described as a total breakdown of governance prompted the federal government to intervene. The decision dissolved the offices of Governor Fubara, his deputy, and all members of the state House of Assembly, effectively ending the tenure of the elected leadership mid-cycle.

To stabilize the region, Tinubu appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas, a former Chief of Naval Staff, as Sole Administrator. The initial six-month mandate granted to Ibas signaled the federal government’s intention to restore security and civil governance without the influence of party politics. However, the move drew mixed reactions from political leaders, civil society groups, and residents of the state.

Despite being at the center of the controversy, Fubara had remained largely silent since his suspension, leading to speculations over his political future. That changed recently when the embattled governor broke his silence with a surprising tone of reconciliation. Publicly voicing his support for the President’s decision, Fubara described the Emergency Rule as “the right call at the right time,” emphasizing that peace must return to Rivers at all costs.

His statement, made during a broadcast to his supporters last week, suggested a strategic repositioning. Fubara assured the people that the current intervention would be short-lived and confidently declared that he would “return to office” once the state regained stability. The suspended governor also promised a complete reinstatement of all his previously serving officials.

Observers interpreted this newfound alignment with the Presidency as part of a broader political calculus. Fubara also confirmed his reconciliation with his long-time political benefactor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. Their fractured relationship had been widely cited as one of the underlying tensions fueling Rivers’ political volatility.

Still, Wike offered a contrasting account during a media interaction on Monday, revealing that he had not been consulted before the federal government’s drastic action. The former governor expressed disapproval of the Emergency Rule, saying that he would not have supported such a decision had he been involved in the discussion.

“I was not informed, and I cannot endorse something I wasn’t part of,” Wike stated bluntly, casting a shadow over the purported reconciliation between the two political figures.

The sequence of events has underscored the delicate balance President Tinubu must maintain in managing political loyalties while enforcing federal authority in crisis zones. While Fubara’s recent public endorsement might be seen as a step toward mending strained relationships, Wike’s revelations suggest that key stakeholders were left out of the loop—a potential liability for the federal government moving forward.

Political analysts suggest that the Lagos meeting between Tinubu and Fubara could pave the way for a negotiated resolution, possibly leading to an earlier-than-expected lifting of the Emergency Rule. Others, however, warn that without broad consultation and inclusive dialogue, the crisis may only be postponed rather than resolved.

Meanwhile, residents of Rivers State remain cautiously optimistic. Many are hopeful that the behind-the-scenes diplomacy signals the beginning of a return to democratic normalcy. Still, others question the transparency and legality of dissolving an elected government, even under the guise of security concerns.

As the political chessboard in Rivers continues to shift, all eyes remain on Abuja and Lagos—where the next chapter in this complex drama is quietly being written.