By Christopher Sunday
voxnews.com.ng
In a surprise political twist that could redefine the future of Rivers State, Governor Siminalayi Fubara has met with his predecessor and rival, Nyesom Wike, in what sources describe as a high-level reconciliation effort — but without the involvement of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), his current political platform.
Political analyst Obiarukwe Ndukwe revealed the development during a live interview with TVC News, disclosing that the meeting was not just another casual encounter, but a well-planned intervention brokered by heavyweight political actors from outside Rivers State — and notably, outside the PDP.
Among those present during the meeting at Wike’s private residence were Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, and elder statesman and former Ogun Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba. According to Ndukwe, these national figures played a key role in facilitating the dialogue between the two estranged leaders.
“Fubara didn’t go alone,” Ndukwe stated. “He went with the governor of Ebonyi State, the governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, and former Governor Olusegun Osoba. They took him to Wike’s house, and when he got in, he walked straight to Wike’s living room. It’s a house he’s familiar with.”
The symbolic return to Wike’s residence — once a home of political camaraderie between mentor and mentee — is raising eyebrows about the realignment of forces in Rivers State, especially considering the backdrop of President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in the state just over a month ago, on March 18, 2025.
While many in Rivers are cautiously optimistic about the prospects of peace, others are questioning the silence — and absence — of the PDP in these behind-the-scenes talks. None of the key players in the peace initiative are PDP chieftains, and party loyalists are already speculating that Governor Fubara may soon officially sever ties with the platform that brought him to power.
“This is just one of several meetings going on quietly,” a source close to the developments told our correspondent. “Very soon, Fubara will announce his defection — and social media will explode.”
The calculated diplomacy and realignment suggest that Fubara is moving toward a broader national coalition, likely with the APC, amid worsening internal fractures within the PDP. The presence of APC stalwarts in the reconciliation process further underscores this likely political shift.
For Rivers State, a successful truce may bring temporary stability. But for the PDP, the writing may be on the wall. If Fubara crosses over, it could mark one of the party’s most significant losses in recent political history — one brokered not by its own machinery, but by its political opponents.
Will this new alliance hold? And what does it mean for 2027? Nigerians are watching.
