After months of high-stakes political turbulence in Rivers State, a flicker of peace has emerged. The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and former Rivers governor, Nyesom Wike, has confirmed that he and the embattled, now-suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara have reconciled — thanks to a late-night intervention led by President Bola Tinubu.

Speaking to reporters after the closed-door meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Wike disclosed that all parties involved in the bitter feud — including suspended members of the Rivers State House of Assembly — have now agreed to put aside their differences and work together.

“We have all agreed to work together with the governor, and the governor has also agreed to work with all of us,” Wike said. “We are members of the same political family. Like any family, disagreements arise, but we have resolved them. It’s all over — in joy.”

The reconciliation comes on the heels of months-long hostilities that led to President Tinubu’s suspension of Governor Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and the state’s lawmakers back in March 2025, following a failed bid to mediate the deepening political crisis.

Amid threats of impeachment, legislative walkouts, and tensions between rival political camps loyal to either Wike or Fubara, the President declared a state of emergency in Rivers and appointed Ibok-Ete Ibas to temporarily oversee the affairs of the oil-rich state.

Thursday night’s breakthrough marks the second face-to-face meeting between Tinubu and Fubara since the latter’s suspension. Earlier this month, the suspended governor visited the President at his Lagos residence during Tinubu’s extended stay in the commercial capital.

The photos from that encounter — posted by presidential aide Bayo Onanuga — sparked speculation about a possible thaw in the political cold war. Now, it appears those behind-the-scenes talks have borne fruit.

“This move signals a return to peace in Rivers State,” Fubara reportedly said after Thursday’s parley.

Fubara’s suspension and the broader crackdown drew widespread criticism from legal and political circles. Heavyweights like Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, the PDP, the Labour Party, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and PANDEF all condemned the actions as unconstitutional and authoritarian.

Yet, Tinubu stood his ground, defending the drastic measures as necessary to prevent further deterioration of law and order in the restive coastal state. Citing Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, the President insisted his decision to impose emergency rule was to prevent a total collapse of governance amid escalating violence, including reported pipeline explosions.

The Rivers Assembly, under Speaker Martin Amaewhule — a Wike loyalist — had accused Fubara of refusing to comply with a Supreme Court judgment relating to the state’s political dispute. That threat of impeachment only added fuel to the fire.

But now, with all sides appearing to retreat from the brink, the focus shifts to whether this fragile truce can hold — and whether real governance can resume in Rivers without further drama.

For now, President Tinubu’s intervention has bought calm in a state that teetered on the edge. Whether that calm turns into lasting stability remains to be seen.