President Bola Tinubu on Monday met behind closed doors with Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Fubara, clad in a white caftan and black cap, arrived at the Villa at about 6:22 pm.

The visit marked his first engagement with the President since the lifting of the six-month suspension and state of emergency in Rivers on September 18, 2025.

Addressing journalists after the meeting, Fubara said his visit was primarily to thank the President and reaffirm his resumption of office.
“You’re aware the suspension was lifted on the 17th, and I came in on the 19th. Ideally, it was proper for me to see Mr. President to inform him that I’m back and have resumed my responsibilities as Governor of Rivers State,” he said.
“It was simply a father-son discussion, thanking him and seeking his guidance on areas where issues may arise so that we don’t find ourselves in any situation of crisis.”

On the President’s remarks, Fubara said: “He advised me on what to do and how best to move forward in governance.”

Asked about his relationship with his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, Fubara declared: “I don’t know what you mean by ‘paper peace.’ As far as I’m concerned, we have made peace. Fubara and his principal are working together.”

Tinubu had, in a national broadcast on March 18, declared a state of emergency in the state, suspended democratic structures, and appointed a sole administrator to oversee its affairs.

Fubara’s visit came shortly after the President held separate meetings with the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq; Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and Imo State governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Zacch Adedeji; and the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, among others.