By Ayodele Oni
As the six months emergency rule in Rivers state still remains fresh, notable elders have moved to further cement the relationship between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his godfather, Nyesome Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT).
In what looks like a fresh move toward peace and reconciliation, the FCT minister and the Governor Fubara, on Saturday met with members of the Rivers State Elders Council in Port Harcourt.
It was gathered that the high-level meeting, which took place behind closed doors, comes amid renewed political tension and unfolding developments in the state’s power dynamics.
Sources at the meeting venue disclosed that the discussion centered on ways to douse the lingering political rift that has polarized the state’s political class since late 2023.
Also in attendance were the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, and the Chairman of the Rivers State Elders Council, Chief Ferdinand Alabraba, alongside several respected stakeholders drawn from across the state’s senatorial districts.
While details of the deliberations were not immediately made public, it was gathered that the elders emphasized the need for peace, mutual respect, and political stability, urging both Wike and Fubara to put the interests of Rivers people above personal or political differences.
Chief Alabraba, who presided over the session, reportedly appealed to both leaders to continue engaging in dialogue to prevent the deepening of divisions within the state’s political structure.
The meeting marks one of the most significant reconciliatory gestures since the crisis between the two political allies — Wike, the immediate past governor, and his successor, Fubara — became public.
Observers say the presence of both figures in the same room, alongside the elders and lawmakers, signals possible progress in ongoing peace efforts initiated by concerned leaders and stakeholders.
There are indications that more meetings may follow in the coming days as part of a broader move to restore cohesion within the ruling political family and ensure that governance in the state remains focused on development rather than political strife.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Minister on Public Communication and New Media, Lere Olayinka, shared photos from the meeting on his official X handle on Sunday, stating that the Rivers State “political family is fully united.
“FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, Chairman of the Rivers State Elders Council, Chief Ferdinand Alabraba, Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, and other leaders in a meeting in Port Harcourt yesterday.
“The political family is fully united”, Olayinka stated.
He, however, provided no further details on the meeting or what decisions and resolutions were taken.
Fubara was reinstated as governor on September 18, 2025, after a six-month state of emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu on March 18, 2025.
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