Manny Ita –
President Bola Tinubu late last night and into the early hours of today held a closed-door meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, in a renewed effort to resolve the prolonged political crisis in Rivers State. The meeting was attended by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, both central figures in the rift that has stalled governance in the oil-rich state for several months.
Presidency sources confirmed that the talks, which stretched deep into the night, focused on restoring political stability and addressing the breakdown of trust between the camps loyal to Wike and those aligned with Fubara. Although the exact terms of the agreement reportedly reached, referred to as the “Guzape Accord,” were not disclosed to the public, the meeting was described as “frank, conciliatory and aimed at peace.”
Observers noted that the atmosphere following the talks appeared less tense, as both Wike and Fubara were seen departing the State House together and proceeding to Wike’s residence in Guzape, Abuja, shortly after the meeting ended. The unusual joint departure has been widely interpreted as a sign of progress in the reconciliation process.
A senior government official familiar with the discussions said the President “made it clear that the political impasse in Rivers State is unacceptable and must end in the interest of governance and development,” adding that Tinubu urged all parties to “place the welfare of the people above personal and political interests.”
The Rivers crisis, which erupted following the fallout between Wike and his successor, has led to deep divisions within the State House of Assembly, disruptions in legislative activities, and heightened political tension across the state. Efforts by party leaders and traditional institutions to broker peace had previously yielded limited results.
While neither Wike nor Fubara addressed the media after the meeting, aides to both men confirmed that further consultations are expected in the coming days to fine-tune the terms of the understanding reached at Aso Rock. Political stakeholders in Rivers State are now watching closely to see whether the latest intervention will translate into lasting peace and the resumption of effective governance.
