By John Umeh
In a dramatic turn of events in the ongoing political standoff in Rivers State, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reportedly intervened in the crisis between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his estranged political godfather, Nyesom Wike, proposing a conditional truce that may restore Fubara’s position — but at a heavy political cost.
According to multiple sources familiar with high-level negotiations, Tinubu has allegedly offered to reinstate Governor Fubara as part of a peace deal aimed at ending the deepening political instability in the oil-rich state. However, the condition attached to this reinstatement is that Fubara must forgo any ambitions to seek a second term in the 2027 gubernatorial election.
The deal, brokered during a closed-door meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, is being viewed as a strategic compromise designed to satisfy both warring factions while preserving peace in a region critical to Nigeria’s economy.
Political Trade-Offs
In addition to Fubara’s agreement to step aside after his current term, the agreement also reportedly grants Wike the power to nominate the next set of local government chairpersons across Rivers State. This move effectively returns grassroots political control to the camp of the former governor, who is now serving as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Insiders say the President’s involvement came after months of growing tension and public confrontations between the two political heavyweights, which had led to defections in the state legislature, threats of impeachment, and widespread uncertainty. Analysts believe that Tinubu’s decision to step in was driven by a desire to protect the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from further fragmentation in the South-South geopolitical zone.
A Fragile Peace
While Tinubu’s intervention has temporarily calmed political waters in Rivers, critics argue that the solution merely papers over deeper structural issues. Fubara supporters are reportedly dissatisfied with the terms of the agreement, viewing it as a betrayal of the governor’s mandate and a blatant subversion of democratic principles.
Civil society groups and some political commentators have also raised concerns that barring an incumbent from running for re-election under political pressure undermines the Constitution and sets a dangerous precedent for executive interference in state politics.
However, proponents of the deal say it is a pragmatic resolution to a volatile situation. “What’s most important right now is the stability of Rivers State,” said one APC official. “The President is focused on ensuring peace, even if that means asking for sacrifices from both sides.”
What’s Next?
As of the time of this report, Governor Fubara has not publicly commented on the proposed condition to relinquish his 2027 ambitions, though aides close to him suggest he is considering it in the interest of stability. Wike, for his part, remains a dominant political force in Rivers, and his continued influence through local government appointments could shape the state’s political landscape for years to come.
Observers are watching closely to see whether this fragile deal will hold and whether Fubara, once reinstated, will fully comply with the no-reelection clause — or whether he may reconsider once 2027 approaches.
President Tinubu’s high-stakes mediation underscores the delicate balance of loyalty, power, and pragmatism that continues to define Nigerian politics — particularly in regions where political personalities loom larger than the institutions themselves.
