Abuja Nigeria—The political rift between two key figures in Rivers State, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara, remained evident during a recent meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday. Both men, part of a delegation from Ogoni, met with the President to discuss the potential resumption of oil production in Ogoniland. However, sources reveal that despite posing for a photograph together with the President, neither Wike nor Fubara exchanged pleasantries during the encounter.
According to Vanguard, a source who attended the meeting disclosed that the two politicians avoided any formal greetings or gestures of reconciliation. “Though both of them posed for a photograph with the President, they did not exchange pleasantries. No hugs. No greetings. Everybody went straight for the meeting with the President, and after that, we all left,” the source said.
Wike, who arrived at the Villa following an inspection and commissioning of projects, promptly returned to his duties after the photo session. As a minister from Rivers, Wike’s attendance at meetings involving the state’s delegation is seen as a mandatory part of his role. The meeting itself, the source emphasized, was focused on business matters and was not intended to address the ongoing political crisis in the state.
Regarding any discussions on reconciliation between the two, the source noted that such an opportunity did not arise. “The President only engaged Magnus Abe. He mentioned that he hadn’t seen him for some time, and Magnus replied that he had been working with the FCT Minister. Wike confirmed that Magnus had indeed been collaborating with him,” the source added.
The tensions between Wike and Fubara were underscored earlier this week when Wike, in a live television interview, reiterated that he would never reconcile with the Governor as long as the political crisis persists.
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In an effort to address the ongoing discord, the Pan Niger Delta Elders Forum (PANDEF) has formed a peace committee led by former Akwa Ibom State Governor Obong Victor Attah. The committee aims to mediate and bring the two feuding politicians to the negotiating table for potential reconciliation.
A source within PANDEF stressed the importance of ending the conflict for the betterment of Rivers State, stating, “This is yet another golden opportunity for both of them to end the fight and make up for peace so that Rivers State can move forward. The crisis is not doing the state any good. They must end this fight and utilize the opportunity offered by PANDEF.”
