With reports of uneasy calm in Rivers State, despite the return of Governor Siminalayi Fubara after a six-month suspension and the lifting of the State of Emergency in the state, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and the governor, met with the elders and stakeholders in the state, at the weekend, to strengthen the relative peace.

The Guardian had observed some gaps in communication and frosty relationship between the governor and his predecessor weeks after the return of the democratic structure, where the speaker, Martins Amaewhule and his colleagues were yet to attend public functions together with the governor.

Concerned by the developments, residents and keen political watchers in the state tasked the minister to do everything within his power to bring the parties together and ensure peace and unity thrive among them.

Apparently, in a move to address the gaps, a meeting was conveyed at the Port Harcourt residence of the Chairman of the Rivers State Elders’ Council, Ferdinand Alabraba. Woke, Fubara, Amaewhule and some members of the Assembly and the elders’ council, among other stakeholders, attended the meeting.

Though none of the attendees disclosed to newsmen what was discussed in the meeting, close sources revealed that the main objective was to ensure that both parties discussed working together in peace and unity to bring the desired development in the state.

Analysts say that to achieve peace, collective efforts are required. Speaking with The Guardian, a lawyer and lecturer at the Department of Political Science, Rivers State University, Dr Chukwuma Chinwo, said, “Wike has major role to play by encouraging his followers to work with the governor.

“Peace in Rivers has to be collective, since Wike is the one who sponsors all of them, it is important that each of actors should listen to him. He should encourage his followers to cooperate with the governor.”

Also, a political analyst and lecturer at the Department of Political Science, University of Port Harcourt, Dr Obinna Nwodim, urged both parties to understand that the state had already lost six months to darkness and should work together to recover it.