Tinubu’s peace efforts will yield results this time – Wike

Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu’s latest intervention in the protracted political crisis in Rivers State will finally bring an end to the bitter standoff between the executive and the legislature.

Wike’s remarks came amid renewed efforts by the Presidency to broker peace between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Rivers State House of Assembly following months of political tension that has almost paralysed governance in the oil-rich State and heightened fears of impeachment and institutional breakdown.

Read also: Tinubu meets Wike, Fubara again 

Speaking on Tuesday, Wike, former Rivers State governor described President Tinubu’s role as that of a father stepping in to settle a family dispute, stressing that the President’s involvement was both timely and necessary.

“He is very kind to the people of the state. If there seems to be any problem between the legislature and the governor, as a father, he really has to intervene,” Wike said.

The Rivers crisis has its roots in the fallout between Wike and his successor, Governor Fubara, shortly after the latter assumed office in May 2023.

What began as a power struggle within then ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) quickly spilled into the State House of Assembly, leading to factionalisation among lawmakers, impeachment threats against the governor, and violent incidents, including the burning of the Assembly complex in late 2023.

At the height of the crisis, a majority of lawmakers loyal to Wike initiated impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara, accusing him of constitutional breaches, while the governor countered with moves seen as attempts to weaken the legislature.

The political impasse drew national attention and prompted President Tinubu’s first intervention, which produced a fragile truce that soon collapsed.

Wike said the current intervention marked the second time the President would be personally stepping in and voiced strong optimism that it would be the last.

Read also: Wike vs Fubara: Presidency complicates Rivers leadership crisis

“This is the second time Mr President is intervening and I believe by the grace of God that this will be the last time Mr President will intervene,” he said.

The FCT minister added that he had already instructed all parties aligned with him to comply fully with the President’s directives, expressing certainty that they would do so.

“And I know that the governor would carry out his own part to make sure that this is the final time that Rivers people will hear this kind of discord”, he added.