President Bola Tinubu met with suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, in London—marking their first face-to-face encounter since the declaration of a state of emergency in the oil-rich state.
The high-stakes meeting, confirmed by The Africa Report, reportedly happened at the insistence of Fubara, who was ousted from office alongside his deputy, Ngozi Odu, after Tinubu invoked Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution on March 18.
While The PUNCH could not confirm the specifics of the meeting, insiders say talks centered on restoring a functional government and the potential reinstatement of Fubara before the six-month suspension lapses.
Tinubu’s March 18 national broadcast cited “months of intense political instability” that had “paralysed governance” and “threatened national stability” as the basis for declaring emergency rule. Navy Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas was appointed as sole administrator.
The President, who had been abroad since April 2, met Fubara in a bid to calm tensions amid a Supreme Court challenge from seven PDP governors opposing the emergency declaration and demanding a return to constitutional order.
Sources say Fubara’s estranged political godfather, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, was not present and is reportedly uncomfortable with talks happening without him.
Tinubu is expected to hold further meetings with Wike, Fubara, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly in search of a lasting political solution. The President returned to Abuja on Monday night after an 18-day foreign trip.
