ABUJA — The fierce political storm that has gripped Rivers State for months appears to have taken a sudden, dramatic turn toward a fragile peace following a late-night intervention by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa on Sunday.
In a move that has left political observers stunned, Governor Siminalayi Fubara reportedly set aside his grievances, accompanying the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to his private residence in Guzape, Abuja, after a marathon reconciliatory meeting. Sources close to the discussions suggest that the Governor went as far as to formally apologize to his predecessor, vowing never to show him “disrespect” again.
The ‘Villa Peace’ Accord
While the Presidency has yet to release an official communique on the details of the meeting, the optics of the encounter suggest a significant de-escalation of the “supremacy war” that had paralyzed the state’s governance.
- The Meeting: The President reportedly sat both men down alongside key Rivers State stakeholders to emphasize the need for stability in the oil-rich state.
- The Apology: Reports indicate that Fubara, a career accountant who has lately been praised for his fiscal transparency regarding the ₦700bn IGR surplus, chose the path of “political humility” to save his administration from the looming impeachment threats by the Wike-aligned House of Assembly.
A Shield for 2027?
The reconciliation follows a week of intense pressure on the Governor. Just days ago, the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, washed the party’s hands of the Fubara-Wike feud, and the party’s delay in officially welcoming Fubara—citing “Ramadan sensitivities”—left the Governor feeling politically exposed.
By apologizing to Wike, Fubara may be seeking a temporary truce to allow his multi-billion naira infrastructure projects—including the 50km Port Harcourt Ring Road—to proceed without legislative sabotage.
Scepticism in the Opposition
Despite the “hug and make up” optics, opposition figures and activists remain skeptical. Mr Peter Obi, who was at the National Assembly gates on Monday to protest the Senate’s rejection of electronic result transmission, has often warned that the “godfather system” is the primary obstacle to Nigeria’s development.
Critics argue that if Fubara’s “sin” was his refusal to share the state’s wealth with “masters,” a reconciliation might imply a return to the old ways of patronage—a move that would clash with the “Open Governance” framework for which Rivers recently won national recognition.
The Path Forward
As of midday Monday, February 9, 2026, Rivers State remains cautiously optimistic. Whether this “Villa Peace” will survive the ongoing terrorism financing trial of Abubakar Malami or the looming ₦1,000 petrol price hike is yet to be seen. For now, the “gavel of peace” has fallen in Abuja, even as the “voice of the streets” continues to demand more than just elite handshakes.
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