Rivers Crisis: Sources Mention Reason Fubara Visited Tinubu in Lagos

• President Bola Tinubu played host to the suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara at his residence in Lagos during his Sallah holiday
• The meeting, held behind closed doors, is the second in recent weeks, as the governor had earlier urged his supporters to thank President Tinubu on his behalf
• However, sources privy to the development disclosed that the meeting was at the request of Fubara and explained why the governor made the move

The crisis rocking Rivers state appeared to be coming to an end as suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara visited President Bola Tinubu to discuss the restoration of peace and his return to the state.

Recently, Fubara made a surprise trip to the United Kingdom via Germany and met with Tinubu in London amid what seemed to be a desperate effort to settle his rift with Nyesom Wike and return to power.

Recall that Tinubu earlier suspended the governor and declared a state of emergency in Rivers amid the political crisis.

Fubara's meeting with Tinubu in London

According to reports, the closed-door meeting was said to have lasted over three hours. Discussions reportedly centred on restoring peace in Rivers state, the possibility of Fubara's return, and the broader reinstatement of suspended democratic institutions within the state.

It was also learnt that the London meeting offered President Tinubu the first-hand opportunity to observe the situation of the embattled governor at close range.

Reports also claimed that the meeting made Fubara's peace appeal more credible, especially when he warned his supporters against abusing Tinubu and urged them to thank him for his immediate intervention in the Rivers crisis.

Fubara also urged his supporters against abusing Wike, stating that such would jeopardise the ongoing peace process.

Why Fubara visited Tinubu in Lagos

According to Vanguard, the major reason Fubara visited Tinubu in Bourdillon was to reassure the president of his commitment to work with him. Sources quoted by the newspaper also disclosed that the meeting was at the request of the embattled governor.

The sources explained that the meeting became imperative due to speculations that the embattled governor wanted to take his pound of flesh from the FCT minister by pitching his tent with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar during the 2027 presidential election.

Also, there is the fear of losing Fubara, as he was reported to be a secret ally of the former Rivers Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, who has been leading the coalition of opposition parties to sack President Tinubu in 2027.

Fubara orders supporters to stop protests

As part of his commitment to the deal, the embattled governor has ordered the immediate end of all the protests in his support in Rivers state and urged everyone who sympathised with him to follow his footsteps in leadership and remain calm during the crisis.

Speaking on the matter, Omotayo Yusuf, a political analyst, in an interview with Legit.ng, stated that politics is a chess game and expressed the confidence that Wike and Tinubu would not be slack to allow Fubara to be their downfall in the 2027 election.

He said:

"Fubara's visit to Tinubu is a commendable step in returning peace to Rivers. However, if the embattled governor has an interior motive, I believe Tinubu and Wike are experienced in the chess game and can tell if Fubara has a secret plan against them ahead of the 2027 election."

Tinubu advises Wike

Legit.ng earlier reported that President Bola Tinubu urged FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to remain focused in his ministerial assignment.

Tinubu, during the inauguration of the renovated international conference centre, urged the minister not to be distracted by busybodies.

The president, at the event, also declared that the ICC would no longer be available for use for free henceforth.

Source: Legit.ng