Tinubu Brokers Peace as Fubara, Wike Exit Villa Together

President Bola Tinubu has stepped into the lingering political crisis in Rivers State, brokering a truce between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, after a late-night meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Sources within the Presidency confirmed on Sunday night that although the two political rivals arrived separately for the meeting, they departed together in the same vehicle following President Tinubu’s intervention. The development is being interpreted as a strong signal that reconciliation may finally be underway after months of intense political tension in Rivers State.

According to one official familiar with the meeting, the symbolic exit was deliberate.

“Fubara came first, then Wike arrived later. But after the President spoke with both of them, they left the Villa together in the same vehicle. That alone shows that something has changed,” the source said.

Another senior source confirmed that the President held separate and joint discussions with both men but declined to disclose details of the resolutions reached.

“Yes, he met them last night. It is true. The two of them settled. He talked to both of them, but I can’t tell you what he said,” the source added.

The meeting comes against the backdrop of a prolonged power struggle between Fubara and his predecessor, Wike, which has polarised the political landscape in Rivers State, disrupted governance, and drawn national attention. The crisis has involved disagreements over political control, loyalty within the state legislature, and the broader structure of power in the state.

Earlier reports indicated that after leaving the Presidential Villa, Governor Fubara accompanied Wike to his residence in Guzape, Abuja, further reinforcing claims that both men had reached an understanding.

While neither Fubara nor Wike has issued an official statement on the outcome of the meeting, political observers say President Tinubu’s direct involvement underscores the federal government’s determination to stabilise Rivers State and prevent the crisis from escalating further.

Stakeholders in the state have welcomed the development cautiously, expressing hope that the reconciliation would translate into peace, restored cooperation among political actors, and renewed focus on governance and development.

As of press time, the Presidency had not released an official briefing on the meeting, but insiders insist that the intervention marks a turning point in the Rivers political saga.