President Bola Tinubu reportedly held a private meeting with the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, during his recent working visit to Europe, sources revealed on Tuesday.
While The Africa Report claimed the meeting was initiated by Governor Fubara, the Presidency has neither confirmed nor denied the encounter, remaining tight-lipped despite efforts by reporters to obtain clarification.
An insider familiar with the development described the meeting as significant, marking the first face-to-face engagement between the President and Fubara since the federal government declared a state of emergency in Rivers State.
In his national broadcast on March 18, President Tinubu cited “months of intense political instability” in the state, which he said had “paralysed governance” and “threatened national stability.” He subsequently appointed former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (rtd), as the state’s sole administrator.
Sources indicated that the recent meeting in London was convened to ease tensions and explore paths to restoring normalcy in the oil-rich state. Discussions reportedly centered on re-establishing a functional government and potentially paving the way for Fubara’s return to office.
Notably absent from the reported talks was FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, Fubara’s estranged political mentor. Political observers suggest Wike’s exclusion may have strategic implications, further intensifying the already complex power dynamics within Rivers politics.
