Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Sunday received Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, at his residence in Port Harcourt, in what marked their first known meeting since Fubara withdrew from the 2027 governorship race.
The meeting is coming amid renewed efforts to consolidate the reconciliation between the two politicians, whose relationship deteriorated shortly after Fubara assumed office in 2023.
Wike was joined at the meeting by Kingsley Chinda, the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Rivers State, and Magnus Abe, chairman of the Rainbow Coalition reconciliation committee.
Sam Jaja, a former deputy national chairman of the APC, accompanied Fubara to the meeting.
The encounter followed Wike’s recent declaration that Fubara had agreed to return to the political family that backed his emergence as governor.
The political relationship between the two men had collapsed into a prolonged crisis, which polarised Rivers State and led to a series of political confrontations.
At the height of the dispute, lawmakers loyal to Wike commenced impeachment proceedings against Fubara. The crisis eventually culminated in President Bola Tinubu declaring a six-month state of emergency in the state.
The two camps later reached a truce, with Fubara joining the APC and aligning with the Rainbow Coalition backed by Wike.
Following Wike’s declaration that the feud had ended, a reconciliation committee led by Abe was established to engage Fubara and his supporters as part of efforts to consolidate the peace deal.
Fubara has since publicly declared his support for the Rainbow Coalition and endorsed Chinda as his preferred successor in the 2027 governorship election.
He has also endorsed President Tinubu for re-election and urged his supporters to back the President and other candidates of the coalition.
Fubara had initially been screened alongside Chinda for the APC governorship primary but subsequently withdrew from the contest, explaining that his decision was motivated by the need to promote peace and unity in Rivers State.
Following his withdrawal, Chinda became the sole aspirant and emerged as the APC governorship candidate for the 2027 election.
Sunday’s meeting between Wike and Fubara is expected to further underscore the rapprochement between the two political allies after years of bitter rivalry.
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