By yodele Oni
Suspended and helpless Governor is on his way back to the office he was forced to give up – well, as is now seems, mercifully, temporarily.
This is thanks to President Bola Tinubu’s personal intervention in the political crisis in Rivers state. This will also shorten the tenure of the Sole Administrator, Navy Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas who has ruled the State for three months old. The State of the which brought Ibas on board was scheduled for an initial six months.
President Tinubu met with all factions in the crisis at his Aso Rock Presidential Lodge, Abuja, till early Friday morning in a bid to bring back the suspended political structures in the State.
PBefore the Abuja meeting, Fubara had met with Tinubu twice, one outside the country and the last one in Lagos. He had also met with Wike in a bid to resolve the political logjam.
The Abuja meeting with the president was to brief him about the outcome of the meetings and resolutions.
Main Presidential Spokesperson to the President, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed the meeting with the President with all the gladiators, in a post on X.
He said:
“President Tinubu has demonstrated once again that he wants peace for Rivers State. Just like he brought together the political gladiators to sign a peace deal in December 2023, he repeated the same on Thursday night, three months after he imposed the March 18 state of emergency.
“FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and House Speaker Martins Chike Amaewhule all took part in the peace talks at the Villa.”
Going by its tenure, the emergency rule is expected to terminate by September, but with the enthusiasm from the various interests in the political crisis, it may end earlier than expected.
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister, Nyesom Wike, the “arrow head” of the crisis, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule and all members of the Legislature attended the peace meeting.
Though held behind closed door, feelers from the meeting indicate that the deal favoured Wike as the control he was asserting on Governor Fubara has been returned to him.
The reconciliation agreement signed early Friday, according to sources, by Fubara, reveal that this current members of RISIEC commission constituted by the State Administrator, Ibas Ete, to conduct local council election in the State will remain.
All 23 council chairmen are to be selected by the real structure that brought Fubara to power, that is the Wike faction. Also all Commissioners and Special Advisers appointed to be given to neutral individuals with zero link to the political crisis in the State.
Former Chief of Staff, Ehie Edison, alternate Speaker, Oko Jumbo, former Secretary of State Government, Tammy Danagogo, Chijioke Ihunwo, Promise Reginald, Ichemati (Sugar Mayor) and others will no longer be part of the Sim Fubara led government anymore.
Speaking after the meeting Wike, flanked by Fubara and others confirmed all has been settled.
It was not immediately revealed whether there was commitment on the part of Fubara to decamp to the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC) as part of the deal. Chairman of the APC, Ganduje had earlier boasted that Fubara and one other Governor of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) will soon join the APC.
Political watchers are of the view that Rivers state should return to full political activities in the interest of the people.
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