Paraphrased Article
Signs of a thaw in the rift between Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, now FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, have surfaced following a high-level meeting of political heavyweights in Port Harcourt. The gathering, held behind closed doors and organized by the Chairman of the Rivers Elders and Leaders Council, Chief Ferdinand Alabraba, brought together Wike, Fubara, top assembly officials, and several prominent politicians.
However, the absence of many figures loyal to Governor Fubara has cast doubt on how inclusive the reconciliation effort truly is. According to insiders, this marks the second such meeting dominated by Wike’s camp, intensifying concerns from within Fubara’s circle.
In attendance were Wike, Fubara, Alabraba, Assembly Speaker Martin Amaewhule, Deputy Speaker Dumle Maol, House Leader Major Jack, Senator Barry Mpigi, and other lawmakers, party leaders, community chiefs, and legal minds. The central agenda, sources say, revolved around bridging the divide between both camps and reestablishing cooperation between the governor and his political mentor.
One loyalist to Fubara described the meeting as lopsided, asking sharply why the elders who stood by the governor during past challenges were absent. On the other hand, supporters of Wike defended the meeting as a needed reset, arguing that it helps root the governor back into his political origins and underscores the importance of loyalty and continuity in politics.
Meanwhile, the Rivers Peace Initiative has called for patience and faith in the process, emphasizing that the path to lasting stability requires allowing dialogue to unfold without turning it into a political weapon. The group’s convener, Obinna Ebogidi, lauded the renewed talks and urged all stakeholders to desist from politicizing the reconciliation, stressing that a united Rivers State is in everyone’s interest.
