…Suspended Governor battling to convince supporters on Rivers Crisis
Photo: Wike and Fubara – Rivers Crisis key actors
By Didimoko A. Didimoko
The ongoing Rivers crisis has taken a new turn as suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara comes under fire from his supporters barely 24 hours after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu brokered a peace deal between him and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.
Despite public celebration of the truce, internal divisions have emerged, with many of Fubara’s allies expressing outrage over what they describe as politically costly concessions. Sources revealed that the governor allegedly ceded control of the 25 local government councils to Wike, the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, and may have also abandoned plans to seek re-election in 2027.
According to insiders in Port Harcourt and across the state, the Rivers crisis appears far from over, as Fubara struggles to reassure his loyalists that the peace accord truly benefits the state.
Addressing the situation on Saturday, Fubara appealed to his supporters to embrace the agreement, stating, “There is no price too much to pay for peace.” However, multiple reports indicate that the governor’s inner circle feels betrayed by the extent of the compromise made to secure his political reinstatement.
“We heard he conceded the 25 council seats to Wike and agreed not to contest in 2027. What kind of peace is that?” a prominent elder statesman in Rivers State told Naija Daily News on condition of anonymity.
Another senior member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who declined to be named, compared the latest deal to the failed agreement initiated by President Tinubu last year, warning that Fubara was isolated in the negotiations.
“Fubara attended the peace talks alone, while Wike came with leaders of the Martins Amaewhule-led faction of the state assembly. He was pressured into accepting terms that undermine his political base. Yes, he’s returned to the Government House—but at what cost to his supporters?”
The tension on the ground is palpable, as several of Fubara’s backers are reportedly distancing themselves from the embattled governor.
“We stood by him. We gave him the strength to resist pressure. Now, he’s traded everyone for his seat. That’s betrayal,” said Abiye Timini, a Port Harcourt resident.
Nonetheless, some observers have praised Fubara’s willingness to put the state’s peace above personal ambition, even as others caution against ignoring the legal realities of the Rivers crisis.
“Let’s be frank—what legal leverage does Fubara have? He couldn’t secure the support of lawmakers. Governing the state with a budget passed by only four out of 25 members is an impeachable offence. The law doesn’t bend to sympathy,” said Jude Allwell, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
As the Rivers’ political drama deepens, it remains to be seen whether this fragile peace will hold or if the crisis will once again boil over.
