• We’ve Agreed To Work Together, Says Wike
• We’ll Sustain Peace This Time – Fubara

There were mixed feelings in Rivers State on Friday over the peace meeting convened by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday night where suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the  Minister of Federal  Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, the Speaker of the State Assembly, Martins Amaewhule and other members of the State Assembly reconciled their political differences.
 
While many residents described the truce as a welcome development, others saw it as a “marriage of convince” just to ensure that peace reigns in the state.
 
Reports had it that in a renewed bid to end the prolonged political turmoil in Rivers State, President Bola Tinubu on Thursday night convened another round of high-level peace talks at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, which brought key actors in the crisis to the table.
 
The closed-door reconciliation meeting was reportedly attended by Fubara, Wike, Amaewhule; and several state lawmakers. Emerging footage and statements confirmed the presence of the major stakeholders at the meeting, which marked a significant step in President Tinubu’s continued efforts to de-escalate tension and restore political stability in the oil-rich state .
 
This latest intervention comes three months after Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers on March 18, suspending Fubara, his deputy, and the state House of Assembly, a dramatic move widely interpreted as a temporary constitutional measure to halt the breakdown of governance.
 
The latest intervention by the President follows a similar peace accord he had brokered in December 2023, when both sides agreed to end hostilities and work together. That truce, however, broke down shortly after, with renewed acrimony and deepening political divisions.
 
Confirming Thursday’s meeting, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said in a post on his verified X handle (@onanuga1956) that Tinubu had once again shown his commitment to securing peace in 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. President Tinubu has demonstrated once again that he wants peace for Rivers State,” Onanuga wrote.
 
Presidency sources said the latest discussions focused on reaffirming the previous peace pact, restoring legislative-executive harmony, and ensuring that political instability does not disrupt governance in the state.   Addressing journalists after the meeting, Wike declared that the dispute had finally been resolved.
 
“We have all agreed to work together with the governor, and the governor also agreed to work together with all of us. We are members of the same political family.
 
“Yes, just like humans, you can have disagreements. But there’s also a time to settle. That has been finally concluded today, and we have come to report to Mr. President that everything is over.

 “I enjoin everybody who believes in our vision to join us. There’s no more acrimony, no more conflict. There’s nothing left to fight over,” Wike said.
 
Echoing the sentiment, Fubara described the meeting as a turning point, pledging to uphold the peace going forward.  He said: “For me, it’s a day to thank Almighty God. It’s very important that this day has come to be.
 
“What we need for the progress of Rivers State is peace. And by the special grace of God, with the help of Mr. President and the agreement of the leaders of our state, peace has returned to Rivers.
 
“We’ll do everything within our power to make sure we sustain it this time around.”  Speaking on the development, a policy and political analyst, Dr. Fynface Dunamene Fynface, said: “In the first instance, this is a welcome development because we thought the peace process was not progressing. We didn’t see Governor Fubara having meetings with the speaker and the FCT Minister; we just saw them smiling and shaking hands after a meeting with the President. This is good.
 
“We are, however, a bit worried because there was nobody on the side of the governor that attended the meeting. The governor was a lone man at that meeting. We only hope that this time, it will be a genuine peace process that will last forever and bring the much desired change and development in Rivers.”

Similarly, the Rivers Peace Initiative, which has been suing for peace in the state, described the reconciliation as “apt and welcoming.” According to the convener of the group, Obinna Ebogidi, the truce  was a  much-needed step that would heal the economy, the people and the state.
 
Ebogidi said: “While this reconciliation is long overdue, we believe that choosing peace, even at this stage, is better than allowing the crisis to continue. The people of Rivers State have suffered enough. Governance was stalled, public institutions weakened, and much-needed development pushed aside.
 
“We commend Governor Fubara for prioritising the peace and stability of the state over political pride. Leadership demands difficult decisions, and the choice to embrace dialogue and compromise reflects a commitment to the greater good.”
 
He further called on the Rivers State House of Assembly to reciprocate the spirit of cooperation and work with the executive to refocus on development, especially in areas critical to the lives of ordinary citizens like healthcare, education, infrastructure, and job creation.
  
To those dissatisfied with the outcome of the truce, he appealed for restraint, saying: “Political grievances should be pursued through democratic processes, not through actions that threaten the stability of the state. The next election will provide an opportunity for all voices to be heard.
 
“This is the time to recover lost ground and rebuild public trust. The work ahead is significant, but it is necessary. Rivers State cannot afford to relapse into conflict,” he added.
 
Ebogidi  said the group would continue to monitor the implementation of the truce and encourage all parties to keep the people of Rivers at the centre of every decision moving forward.
 
Also speaking, a lecturer at the Department of Political Science, University of Port Harcourt, Dr. Obinna Wordi, said the truce was a welcome development.
 
“Whatever it takes for normalcy to return to Rivers State is most welcome. The gladiators should be open to embrace the peace initiative with truth and sincerity of purpose bearing in mind that Rivers people are the worst affected in this whole political imbroglio that has plagued the state in the past few months,” he stated.