Fubara brainstorms with Wike amid Rivers political tensions

In a fresh attempt to mend fences with his estranged political mentor, suspended Rivers State Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara paid a private visit to the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, at his Abuja residence on Monday.

According to a report by The Nation, though details of their discussion remain under wraps, the meeting comes amid growing public appeals for Fubara’s reinstatement and an end to the ongoing political crisis in the state.

Supporters of the embattled governor, especially within the group known as The Simplified Family, were reportedly optimistic that President Bola  Tinubu might address the issue in his Democracy Day address at the National Assembly on Thursday. Anticipating such a move, many had made extensive preparations expecting Fubara’s reinstatement, only to be disappointed when no such pronouncement came.

Instead, President Tinubu sent a letter to the Senate requesting confirmation of appointments made by the state’s administrator, Vice Admiral (Rtd.) Ibok-Ete Ibas. These appointments included members of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, the Primary Healthcare Board, the Civil Service Commission, and the Local Government Civil Service Commission.

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The letter, read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, was referred to the Senate’s Ad-hoc Committee on Emergency Rule.

Senator Seriake Dickson, a key Fubara supporter, expressed dismay at the President’s silence on Rivers, stating: “By not mentioning anything about Rivers in his address, Tinubu had displayed undemocratic tendencies.”

Dickson compared the current administration in the state to a military regime due to its leadership by a retired naval officer. His remarks triggered a sharp rebuttal from the Rivers caucus in the National Assembly.

But. leader of Rivers federal lawmakers caucus, Kingsley Chinda responded firmly: “Let it be categorically stated that Rivers State is not under military rule. The current Administrator of the state, Vice Admiral Retired Ibok-Ete Ibas, is a retired military officer, just as Senator Seriake Dickson is himself a retired Police Corporal, but a serving senator.”

Chinda continued, “To label the current administration as military rule is therefore misleading and intellectually disingenuous… The declaration of the state of emergency in River State was a necessary constitutional intervention aimed at preserving peace, protecting lives and restoring institutional order.”

He noted that the move had also been validated by the Supreme Court’s February 28 ruling which cited the absence of functional governance in the state.

Chinda accused Dickson of playing a disruptive role in Rivers politics and influencing Fubara to make decisions that ultimately led to his suspension.

“Senator Dickson is at it again… He is grossly incompetent and unfit to claim to protect democracy.”

Chinda warned the former Bayelsa governor against further interference in Rivers affairs:

“He is from Bayelsa State. If he wants to cause problem or crisis anywhere, let him go back to his home and do so.”

Senator Orwell Onyesor also criticized Dickson’s comments, suggesting that his own constituency would benefit more from the energy he was channeling into Rivers matters.

In his Democracy Day remarks, Dickson described the Senate’s reading of the President’s letter as inappropriate:
“It was provocative… an undemocratic document on Democracy Day.”
The senator accused the President of missing a chance to restore democratic leadership in Rivers.

In reaction, some critics pointed to Dickson’s own political past, accusing him of undemocratic conduct while in office. A member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Timi Agala-Omubo, recalled how Dickson allegedly blocked minority lawmakers from being inaugurated during his tenure as governor.

Agala-Omubo wrote: “The Senator Dickson today is not different from the Governor Dickson who prevented three Assembly members-elect from being inaugurated… for no other possible reason than that they were of the minority…”

Meanwhile, despite Fubara’s meeting with Wike, there are growing doubts about the depth of any reconciliation. Sources within the suspended House of Assembly say the governor has yet to reach out to other key stakeholders.

A senior Assembly official revealed: “He met with President Tinubu after meeting with Wike. But since then till now, the suspended governor has not met with anybody.”

The official noted that the Assembly remains suspended, the state budget unresolved, and no outreach has been made to the so-called “three wise men” who were central to Fubara’s electoral success.

Similarly, former Emohua Council Chairman Chidi Lloyd cast doubt on Fubara’s return to effective governance without meaningful reconciliation.

“He has been told many times to go and make peace. Assuming he comes back, has the problem with the House Assembly been resolved?”

Lloyd added: “Fubara is playing the ostrich. Going to see the President and taking photograph, does it stop the problem?”