On June 3, 2025, Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara held a private meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the president’s Bourdillon residence in Ikoyi, Lagos, marking their second closed-door discussion since Fubara’s suspension on March 18, 2025.
The unannounced visit, lasting over two hours, sparked speculation about efforts to resolve Rivers’ ongoing political turmoil, which culminated in Tinubu’s declaration of a six-month state of emergency on May 18, 2025. The crisis stems from Fubara’s feud with his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now FCT Minister, over control of the state’s political structure, leading to defections of 27 lawmakers and judicial rulings against Fubara’s governance.
Fubara, accompanied by a small delegation, reportedly sought Tinubu’s intervention to restore constitutional democracy, as the Supreme Court ordered the Rivers State House of Assembly to pass a 2025 Appropriation Bill, stalled by the crisis. Tinubu appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas as state administrator to stabilize governance, but Fubara’s camp insists on a peace process prioritizing the state’s progress.
The governor publicly thanked Tinubu for his timely intervention, crediting him for averting worse outcomes, though no official statement detailed the meeting’s outcomes. The political battle has polarized Rivers, with 60% of residents in a recent poll supporting Fubara’s peace efforts, while Wike’s allies demand his resignation. Analysts suggest Tinubu’s mediation aims to prevent violence, as militants loyal to Fubara threatened retaliation, highlighting Nigeria’s fragile political landscape where 1,000 defections occurred in 2024. The meeting underscores Tinubu’s role as a power broker, but critics warn unresolved tensions could disrupt Rivers’ $2 billion oil economy.